Vulvodynia
Other causes of vulval pain
Source: NHS
In this topic (6)
Pain in the vulva isn't always vulvodynia.
It can have a number of other causes, such as:
- persistent vaginal thrush or other vaginal infections
- sensitivity to something touching the vulva, such as soap, bubble bath ormedicated creams(known as irritant contact dermatitis )
- a drop in the hormone oestrogen causing dryness of the vulva, particularly during the menopause
- a recurrent herpes infection
- lichen sclerosus or lichen planus (skin conditions thatcan cause intense irritation and soreness of the vulva)
- in rare cases, Behcet's disease (acondition of the blood vessels that can cause genital ulcers) or Sjogren's syndrome (a disorder of the immune system that can cause vaginal dryness )
Your doctor may want to rule out these conditions before treating you for vulvodynia. Some women can have a combination of problems, for example recurrent thrush and vulvodynia, with both needing proper treatment to reduce pain.
