Vulvodynia or vulvar pain syndrome may affect as many as 15% of mainly Caucasian women between the ages of adolescence and menopause.  It is often misdiagnosed and may be dismissed as a psychological problem by many physicians.

This unexplained vulvar pain often presents as a burning or sharp stinging sensation or irritation in the vagina and redness and rawness of the female genitalia.  Topical creams, ointments, antibiotics, tranquilizers and laser surgery do not relieve the pain.  Few patients have a history of sexually transmitted diseases or risky sexual behavior.

This complex disorder varies in persistence and severity, but has a profound impact upon the affected woman's quality of life.  The pain may occur spontaneously or be triggered by any number of activities, not limited to sexual intercourse.  In some women, it is triggered by clothing, exercise, or daily activities, such as sitting or walking.  In most cases, it becomes a chronic problem that lasts for months or years.

Standard medical treatment usually consists of antibiotics, anticandida agents, topical creams, estrogen, laser surgery, antidepressants, low-oxalate diets, calcium citrate, topical corticosteroids, biofeedback, support groups, and exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor.  Standard exercise treatment is not effective if it is exercising muscles that are unbalanced and therefore already tight.  Most treatments focus on the symptoms but not one looks at the alignment of the pelvis.  Torsions may be causing tightness and therefore, pain. None of these approaches are consistently effective at reducing or eliminating the pain.

This is a rather sensitive area where there has been little study or documentation of adhesions and restrictions in the fascia as a causal factor in the pain that is felt. However, in our experience working on women who are experiencing vulvar pain, most have internally tight tissue and have some adhesions and restrictions in the fascia. An experienced therapist can feel tightness and areas of restriction and then work to release it.

A body that is not balanced will cause tightness in muscles and tissue.  Inadequate blood and lymph flow starves the tissues and causes a buildup of toxins, which may cause inflammation and irritation.  At Windsong Therapy and Wellness, we work to balance the body, reduce tightness, insure a good blood supply and adequate lymph flow to remove toxins and provide nourishment to the tissues. 

Vulvar pain is a symptom with no specific causal restriction or imbalance.  In some women, simply balancing the pelvis may eliminate the pain while in others there may be internal restrictions or adhesions from innumerable causes.  Therefore, an experienced therapist, who can recognize adhesions and restrictions, and devise an individual treatment plan, must examine each woman.  Windsong Therapy and Wellness treats each patient as an individual and strives to customize programs to fit the woman's lifestyle.

This website last updated on 31 July 2010

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