What is Vaginal Pain?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Vaginal Pain?
The pain or discomfort in the vagina, which may sometimes extend to the entire genital area is known as vaginal pain. Vaginal pain may cause a burning, itching, or stinging sensation. The symptoms may be mild to severe and may improve or become worse with sexual activity or movement. Vaginal pain alone is usually not a serious medical condition. However, it could be accompanied by symptoms of serious or life-threatening conditions. In this article, we will be discussing in detail vaginal pain.
- What are the causes of Vaginal Pain?
- What are the risk factors of Vaginal Pain?
- What are the symptoms of Vaginal Pain?
- How to diagnose Vaginal Pain?
- What is the treatment for Vaginal Pain?
- What are the complications of Vaginal Pain?
- How to prevent Vaginal Pain?
What are the causes of Vaginal Pain?
The different causes of vaginal pain could be:
- Injury
- Sexual abuse
- Allergic reaction to condoms
- History of surgery performed in the vulva (outer part of the female genitalia) region
- Irritation to the nerves in the vulvar region
- Rashes in the vulvar region
- Sexually transmitted diseases
(Know more about- What are the symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Diseases? )
- Irritation of skin from chemicals like soap, detergent, or female hygiene products
- Dryness of vagina after menopause
- Yeast infections
- Bacterial infections
- Viral infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Vulvodynia (chronic or long-term pain in vulva, vagina, or both)
- Vaginismus (the involuntary muscle spasms of the vaginal wall)
- Endometriosis (the uterine lining tissue grows outside the uterus or womb, instead of growing inside it)
- Ovarian cysts (a fluid-filled sac formation inside or on the surface of the ovary, which is a female reproductive organ present on either side of the uterus or womb and responsible for the production of the egg or ova)
- Ovarian tumors
( Know more about- What are Ovarian Cancer Treatment? )
- Lichen planus (an inflammatory condition affecting the skin and mucous membrane)
- Uterine fibroids (non-cancerous growths in the uterus of a woman)
( Know more about- What are Uterine Fibroids? )
- Prolapsed pelvic structures (when the tissues and muscles supporting the pelvic organs become loose or weak, causing one or more pelvic organs to drop into or out of the vagina)
- Pelvic (the region below the stomach) trauma
- Abdominal (stomach region) trauma
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (a serious infection of the internal female reproductive organs)
- Cancer of the vagina, uterus, cervix (the lower end of the uterus), or other female reproductive organs
( Know more about- What is Cervical Cancer? )
- Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (a precancerous change in the vulvar skin)
What are the risk factors of Vaginal Pain?
Certain factors may increase the chances of developing vaginal pain. These factors may include:
- Hormonal changes due to pregnancy, menopause
( Know more about- What is Hormonal Imbalance in Females? )
- Hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus)
( Know more about- What is Hysterectomy ? )
- History of breast cancer treatment
- Use of certain medications like statins (used to lower cholesterol)
- Vaginal dryness
- Increase in age
( Know more about- What is Breast Cancer Treatment ? )
What are the symptoms of Vaginal Pain?
The symptoms of vaginal pain may include:
- Burning
- Bleeding
- Itching
- Stinging
- Throbbing
- Raw sensation
- Vaginal discharge
- Vaginal dryness
- Foul odor
- Decreased sexual arousal
- Hematuria (bloody or pink-colored urine)
( Know more about- What is Blood in Urine ( Hematuria ) ? )
- Fever
- Chills
- Painful urination
- Dysuria (burning sensation while urinating)
- Infertility
- Tingling or numbness
( Know more about- What is Tingling causes in hands and feet ? )
- Pain during sex
- Rashes
How to diagnose Vaginal Pain?
- Physical examination: The patient’s physical health is examined. The symptoms of the patient are noted, along with the medical history, sexual history, and family history of the patient.
- Pelvic exam: The external genitals and vagina are examined by the doctor to check for signs of infection. The doctor may also insert his/her gloved and lubricated finger into the vagina to check the internal female reproductive organs.
- Swabs to check for infection: The doctor may take a sample of cells from the vagina to check for infections like a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis.
- Cotton swab test: A moistened cotton swab is used by the doctor to check for localized, specific areas of pain in the vaginal area.
- Biopsy: The doctor removes a sample of the suspected tissue lesion and sends it to the laboratory for further evaluation.
( Know more about- What is a Pap smear? )
What is the treatment for Vaginal Pain?
The doctor will treat the vaginal pain according to the underlying cause of the condition. The different treatment approaches may include:
Medications:
- In the case of bacterial or fungal infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics or antifungal medications to treat it.
- Topical ointments like lidocaine gel may be applied to numb the vaginal area during sexual intercourse, to relieve the pain and discomfort during sex.
- Topical steroid creams may be recommended to reduce burning, irritation, and swelling.
- Anticoagulants or tricyclic antidepressants may help in reducing chronic or long-term pain.
Anesthetic injections and nerve blocks:
- In some cases, the doctor may recommend either anesthetic injections or nerve blocks to deaden or numb the area in the vagina.
Surgery:
- Surgery may also be recommended to treat vulvodynia, vulvar vestibulitis (pain in the vestibule, which is the part of the vulva around the vaginal opening), or cancer of the cervix.
- A vestibulectomy is a surgical procedure done to remove the tissue in the area where the patient feels pain.
( Know more about- What is Ovarian Cyst Removal Surgery? )
There are many renowned hospitals and gynecologists in India where ovarian cyst removal surgery is done with great expertise.
Cost of Ovarian Cyst Removal Surgery in Mumbai
Cost of Ovarian Cyst Removal Surgery in Bangalore
Cost of Ovarian Cyst Removal Surgery in Delhi
Cost of Ovarian Cyst Removal Surgery in Chennai
Best Gynecologist in Bangalore
- Physiotherapy:
Physiotherapy helps in treating pelvic floor injuries by performing exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
( Know more about- What is Physiotherapy? )
- Counseling:
Since vaginal pain can affect sexual relationships and the overall quality of life, counseling may help the patient.
( Know more about- What are the benefits of Counseling? )
What are the complications of Vaginal Pain?
Vaginal pain can lead to the following complications if left untreated:
- Infertility
- An abscess (pus) formation
- Poor quality of life
- Sepsis (a life-threatening bacterial blood infection)
- Sexual dysfunction
- Spread of cancer
- Spread of infection
- Transmission of sexually transmitted diseases
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Altered body image
- Trouble in relationships
( Know more about- What is Depression? )
How to prevent Vaginal Pain?
Vaginal pain can be prevented by the following tips:
- Have protected sex
- Avoid using any products inside the vagina
- Avoid douching (washing or cleaning the inside of the vagina)
- Avoid shaving of the vaginal area if it causes irritation
- Use mild, fragrance-free soaps on the outside of the vagina
- Avoid wearing tight-fitting undergarments
- Avoid the use of deodorant pads or tampons
- Avoid activities that can put pressure on the vulva, like horseback riding or biking
- Apply a lubricant before having sex
- Avoid soaking in hot baths and hot tubs
- Apply a cold compress to the external genitalia in case of any irritation
- Soak in a sitz bath (sit in lukewarm water) two to three times a day
( Know more about- What is Condom? )
We hope we could answer all your questions about vaginal pain through this article.
If you want to get more information and treatment about vaginal pain, you can contact a good Gynecologist.
We only aim to give you information through the article. We do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
