If you are suffering from burning irritation or tenacious pain in your vagina for a while, then you know firsthand the toll it takes on your emotional as well as physical health. Still, several women prefer to bear it in silence, seldom sharing their problems with the private gynecologist.
According to the latest study, around 26% of women encounter vaginal pain at a certain period in their lifetime. However, only 2% seek help. With the different types of treatment options available, any woman who encounters vaginal pain should get it looked at immediately. So, let us check out the top six vaginal pain relief options for women.
Ways To Treat Vaginal Pain
Physical therapy
There is no one cause for vaginal pain or vulvodynia. Many factors contribute to vaginal pain. These factors may be different for every woman. The pain can be generally linked to an injury or damage to the pudendal nerve, arising out of surgery or childbirth, arthritis, ruptured disc and sports injury.
The various techniques used by physical therapy include soft tissue mobilisation, ultrasound, trigger pain release, joint mobilisation. Manual therapy is also helpful to treat pain arising out of neurological problems.
The physical therapist would first ask for your complete medical history to determine the exact causes of your pain. Then they will conduct a structural and postural assessment before advising you about further vaginal pain treatment options.
Medication
Topical pain relief medication can be used to desensitise the region around the vulva. But, they are not an ideal treatment option, because they only mask or conceal the symptoms, instead of treating the problem at its root. Plus, these pain relief medications only offer temporary relief lasting only some hours. Later on, the pain regains its intensity and returns with force. Further, regular use of such medication can also lead to other areas of your body exhibiting side effects. Use of medicines is helpful when it is combined with other treatment options.
Acupuncture
As per the latest research, acupuncture can prove effective at solving the problem of vaginal pain or vulvodynia. According to studies, acupuncture can help enhance sexual functions and decrease vaginal pain significantly. Plus, it also helps with vaginal itching treatment.
Biofeedback
Sometimes the pelvic floor muscles can become weak and tighten as they react to chronic vaginal pain. This may further increase the intensity of the pain. Biofeedback helps to elongate the pelvic floor muscles. In the biofeedback process, internal electrodes attached to the system measure the activity of the muscles in the pelvic floor with the help of a computer. The system also teaches women about how they could strengthen and relax their muscles around the pelvic region.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy can be used to initiate behavioural and mental changes to enhance sexual functioning and reduce the pain in the vagina.
Excessive distress and strain of the vaginal pain for a woman can affect the way her brain processes it, leading to behavioural changes in all aspects of her life. The therapy helps reduce this impact of vaginal pain and engage more with her sex life.
TENS
TENS or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is a type of electrical stimulation that helps to disorient or disturb the chronic cycle of pain by over-firing or facilitating the generation of more neurons in the pelvic region.
These are the top six methods that can treat vaginal pain effectively. Most of the time, the real cause of vaginal pain is not known, which results in haphazard treatment options. You should consult an experienced private gynaecologist in London to receive efficient vaginal itching treatment.
If you are suffering from vulvodynia and are looking for an expert gynaecologist, then you must visit the Well Women Clinic now.