What is the best treatment for vulvodynia?
Vulvodynia Treatments
- Local anesthetics, such as lidocaine.
- Topical estrogen creams.
- Tricyclic antidepressants.
- Anticonvulsants.
- Nerve blocks.
- Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.
- Neurostimulation and spinal infusion pump.
- Medications with anti-inflammatory effects such as steroids or mast cell inhibitors.
Where is vulvodynia pain located?
Vulvodynia is chronic pain in the vulva, the area on the outside of a woman’s genitals. It is usually described as a sensation of burning, stinging, itching or rawness.
Does vulvodynia affect the urethra?
The pain can affect a particular spot, or it may be felt in a wider area, including the clitoris, the perineum, the mons pubis, and the inner thighs. It can also affect the area around the urethra and the top of the legs and inner thighs.
Does vulvodynia cause painful urination?
Patients also might feel like they are experiencing recurrent bladder infections, with symptoms such as burning during urination, frequent urination and a strong urge to urinate. However, if they have vulvodynia or vulvar vestibulitis, a lab test will show no infection-causing bacteria in their urine.
Can vulvodynia cause painful urination?
Does vulvodynia feel like UTI?
Vulvodynia can also be confused with a UTI, because the urine may cause a burning sensation on the vulva. But typically those patients will not have the frequency and urgency of a UTI.
Is vulvodynia nerve damage?
It can also affect the area around the urethra and the top of the legs and inner thighs. The pain involved in vulvodynia is neuropathic, which means it stems from abnormal signals from the nerve fibers in the vulval area. The nerve endings are hypersensitive. It may be constant or intermittent.
Does Vaseline help vulvodynia?
Living with vulvodynia Try to avoid using soap in the genital area. Just wash with water. Don’t use creams, petroleum jelly, bubble baths, bath oils or feminine deodorant sprays. Wash your genital area frequently with plain water to wash away any vaginal secretions that may cause irritation.
Does vulvodynia make you urinate more?