Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome/Vulvodynia

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Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome/Vulvodynia is a medical term that means "painful vulva." The term can cover a wide variety of vulvar pain syndromes, including various infections and skin disorders.  Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome (VVS) is an inflammation of the vestibule, or opening to the vagina and the tissues immediately around the vaginal opening. This condition is also sometimes called "vestibular adenitis".The classic description of VVS involves redness of the vulvar vestibule, especially with small red spots; pain with intercourse or tampon insertion and stinging pain when urinating.

Vulvodynia of neurologic origin  is also called "essential vulvodynia," "pudendal neuralgia" or "dysthetic vulvodynia". The classic description of pudendal neuralgia involves a more or less constant itching or tingling sensation in the vulva, ranging from mild to excruciating pain of the entire vulva. Pudendal neuralgia is probably due to compression or degeneration of the pudendal nerve, one of the main nerves that relays sensation to and from the genitals. This condition can also result from a spinal injury, or a tumor or cyst in the spine. Trauma during childbirth can also cause vulvodynia. In many cases, the exact cause remains unknown.

The National Vulvodynia Association (NVA) - http://www.nva.org/

Vulvar Vestibulitis – – American Academy of Family Physicians – http://www.aafp.org/afp/990315ap/990315d.html

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