Are you struggling with unexplained vulvar pain? Don’t be too embarrassed to seek help because you could have vulvar vestibulitis. Vulvar vestibulitis is a fairly common condition that can be effectively treated when correctly diagnosed. So, what are the symptoms of vulvar vestibulitis?
What Is Vulvar Vestibulitis?
Vulvar vestibulitis is a syndrome characterized by pain in specific regions of the vulvar vestibule. The vulvar vestibule is a band of tissue located between the labia minora at the opening of the vagina.
Vulvar vestibulitis is also known as provoked vulvodynia because the pain occurs in response to touch or pressure.
What Are the Symptoms Of Vulvar Vestibulitis?
Burning vulvar pain, lasting for more than 3 months, is the leading symptom of vulvar vestibulitis. The pain at the vaginal opening is often so debilitating that it affects everyday activities and disrupts normal life. Women with the condition also report experiencing pain with intercourse or when inserting a tampon.
Other symptoms of vulvar vestibulitis include rawness, discharge, irritation, and soreness.
Diagnosing Vulvar Vestibulitis
Vulvar vestibulitis can be diagnosed using a vaginal fluid analysis (VFA) test. The VFA test evaluates the vaginal constituents to establish if there is an altered vaginal microflora pattern. An altered vaginal microflora is the underlying etiology of vulvar vestibulitis.
Treating Vulvar Vestibulitis
If the results of the VFA test confirm that the vaginal microflora is in an altered state, a treatment protocol is formulated to restore balance to the vaginal ecosystem.
An altered vaginal microflora occurs when the balance of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria in the vagina is disrupted, causing the bad bacteria to multiply. The vaginal secretions that emanate from the altered microflora irritate the vestibular tissue and bring about the symptoms of vulvar vestibulitis.
An individualized treatment protocol can help to relieve the symptoms of vulvar vestibulitis. Treatment typically involves a combination of medications along with hypocontactant skincare products.
Contact the experts in vaginal care at Fowler GYN International (FGI), Phoenix, AZ for a consultation. Dr Fowler is a former consultant in Gynecology at Mayo Clinic. He is board certified in Gynecology and created this organization to handle difficult cases.
You can reach them at https://www.fowlergyninternational.com/, or by calling (480) 420-4001.