sharp pain in vulva
Do you feel a sensation like a sharp pain in vulva? In females a sharp pain in vulva can be felt which can be due to many reasons and is called Vulvodynia the reasons can be many. This pain can cause discomfort and uneasiness in a female and might need some intervention. This pain vulva can be constant and knife-poking , burning, stinging, with soreness, or even stabbing like.
This is how women with Vulvodynia describe the pain which they feel around the opening of their vagina called vulva .
There are two types of vulvodynia that are as follows: Generalized vulvodynia as the names suggests pain is felt all around the vagina. The other type is localized vulvodynia, the pain is felt in one specific area. The pain can be persistent or can occur only when person sits for a long time or while having sex. For most women it can be hard to discuss it with anyone, including the doctor But we should always remember talking about what hurts is the first and most important step to help and healing.
What are the causes of sharp pain in vulva?
Vulvodynia is a kind of pain disorder with mostly unknown cause literally doctors don’t know why it happens. Sexually transmitted disease (STD) doesn’t bring it . Other causes like infection, skin disease, or even cancer can cause pain around the opening of your vagina, but none of them are capable or are the same as vulvodynia. Vulvar pain isn’t well understood as mentioned above. Vulvar pain is not contagious, nor is it spread through sex so no need to worry there . It’s also not a sign of cancer or any serious infection. But for years researchers tried to see what’s the cause and have seen a link between vulvar pain and some conditions and factors in some women not all, such as the following :
Recurrent yeast infections
In one research study , mice that were treated for yeast infections were three times more likely to encounter sharp vulvar pain than the mice without yeast infection. So in short researchers theorized that the multiple yeast infections increased the production of nerve fibres in the mice that lead to more Vulvar pain .
Genetic disorders
Some women are born with some genetic differences that can cause cells to overreact to inflammation or to hormones which can cause pain when inflammation happens in the vulvar region. Inflammation leads to tissue swelling , fill with more blood, and feel hot and lead to soreness.
Physical or sexual trauma
Vulvar nerve endings are very much at verge of getting damaged during childbirth, sexual abuse, or sex without enough vaginal lubrication. Activities which put a lot of pressure on the vaginal region, like bicycling or horseback riding are such activities that can also harm nerve endings and tissue.
Chronic pain conditions
Women with vulvodynia or pain in vulva may be 2 to 3 times more likely to develop chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome. Both of these are inflammatory diseases, so this type of vulvar pain can be related to inflammation as well.
Allergies
Many things even normal stuff like Soaps, gels, and feminine deodorant products can cause an allergic reaction in the vulvar region in some women leading to irritation and then inflammation and pain.
Hormone therapy
There is this study where it was found that women with chronic vulvar pain were more likely to have used hormone therapy than those who didn’t have pain at all. But it should be kept in mind that it’s just a research study not proven yet.
Association with other problem’s
Women who have sharp pain in vulva may also have another type of pain syndrome. This indicates there may be a link between sharp pain in vulva and pain conditions like following:
- Fibromyalgia
- Painful bladder syndrome
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Temporomandibular disorder
Who’s At Risk for sharp pain in vulva?
Sharp pain in vulva affects women of all ages irrespective of races, and ethnic backgrounds. Other factors present that can have an affect on it’s happening are hormonal changes, a history of sexual abuse, and sensitive skin issues, like allergies.
Possible risk factors for vulvodynia that is sharp pain in vulva include following :
- Anxiety
- Depression
- History of abuse
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
What are the Signs and Symptoms of sharp pain in vulva ?
The symptoms of vulvodynia mostly begin suddenly and can last from months to even years. The most common symptoms of vulvodynia or sharp vulva pain include following :
- Burning or stinging
- Rawness
- Aching and soreness,
- Throbbing
- Itching
What Are the Possible Complications of sharp pain in vulva?
Sharp pain in vulva can be so painful that one can lose the desire to have sex. This can lead to relationship issues. This may trigger a condition doctors call as “vaginismus it’s where the muscles around the vagina tense up because the patient is afraid of any kind of penetration that will cause pain. There are many things, like having sex, using a tampon, or having a pelvic exam, that might cause this reaction. This can also affect the body image and sleep patterns, which can eventually lead to anxiety and depression in a female.
How to Diagnosis sharp pain in vulva ?
To diagnose vulvodynia, the concerned doctor may:
- Ask about medical, sexual and surgical history as history plays an amazing important role in almost everything .This helps the doctor in understanding exactly where and how much pain one is having .
- Ask for a pelvic exam so that they can check the external genitals and vagina for things that might be causing the symptoms.
- Might take a sample of cells from the vagina to test for an infection so they can rule of vaginal infections.
- Will do a cotton swab test and for exact test the doctor uses a cotton swab to check in exact areas of pain in the vulvar region.
- Doctor can do a biopsy that is doctor will take a small piece of tissue from a particular area to examine it further mostly it’s done when there is a sore present.
What is the treatment for sharp pain in vulva?
There’s no one treatment for sharp pain in vulva that can work for all women. One may have to try combination of many things for the best results. The doctor can suggest , some Medications like a pill or a cream or ointment to rub onto the skin, or a shot. Some times the doctor may suggest following:
- Local anesthetics, such as lidocaine
- Some Topical estrogen creams
- Tricyclic antidepressants called TCA
- Anticonvulsants
- Nerve blocks if it's that severe
- Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
- Medications like steroids or mast cell inhibitors for inflammation
- Botox
Some activities put for sure put pressure on the vulva. So easing it can help with the pain. To ease it one can:
- try using a water-soluble lubricant during sexual intercourse.
- Avoid such activities which put direct pressure on the vulva like bicycling and horseback riding.
- Try to sit on a foam rubber doughnut it helps with pain
Home Remedies
- staying away from things that could irritate the vulva can help . These things might include certain soaps, medications, one can:
- Start using a dermatologist-approved detergent
- Stop using fabric softener on the panties.
- Start using unscented toilet paper that’s soft and white.
- Wear 100% white cotton underwear avoid colorful panties.
- Use 100% white cotton pads, and tampons during Menstruation.
- Try not to get shampoo on the vulvar area.
- Avoid using perfumed things like creams or soaps, pads or tampons, and even contraceptive creams or spermicides.
- Stay out of places with high chlorine like hot tubs or pools.
- Rinse the vulva with cold water after urinating or having sex.
- Avoid foods which make the urine more irritating like greens, beans, berries, chocolate, and nuts.
- Wear loose-fitting pants and skirts avoid tight gym pants and pantyhose.
- Keep the vulva area clean and dry.
- Remove wet swimsuits or damp gym clothes as soon as you get out of the pool.
- After taking a bath, gently pat the vulva dry
There are some therapies that the doctor may also suggest like:
- Physical therapy, that involves exercise to strengthen pelvic muscles and ease the muscle spasms
- Biofeedback, that helps in learning to relax vaginal muscles to lessen the pain
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation it’s a kind of treatment that uses a low volt electrical current to ease the pain.
Surgery :
If one is suffering from localized type of vulvodynia called provoked vestibulodynia, the doctor may suggest surgery to remove painful tissue, specifically if other options haven’t responded .If the doctor doesn’t have any previous experience with surgery thing , person should consider seeing a gynecologist with a special interest in this condition
Takeaway
Sharp pain in vulva can be due to many reasons either genetic, allergic or physical trauma or even sexual trauma but mostly it is due to unknown reasons till now doctors are themselves trying to find a way for it. But if it is due to to other causes mentioned above then treatments are available. It’s always better to visit a doctor if pain in vulva doesn’t go away soon.