Vulvodynia refers to a condition where a woman feels discomfort or pain in their vulva. It is the external part of the female genitalia. The pain is persistent and affects the quality of a woman’s life.
There are a lot of women who have the condition of Vulvodynia and wonder if anxiety is a factor that contributes to this condition. Let us explore this topic in simpler terms.
About Vulvodynia
Vulvodynia, as I briefly discussed before, is a chronic pain condition that affects the vulva. It includes the labia, clitoris, and vaginal opening. The pain manifests in the form of a burning, itching, and stinging sensation. It then lasts for a long time. This makes activities like sitting, walking or having sex very uncomfortable.
The exact cause of Vulvodynia is not always clear. In some cases, it can be linked with hormonal changes, infection and even irritation. However, in most cases, no physical changes are found. This is where “anxiety” comes into play.
The Link Between Anxiety And Vulvodynia
There has been some recent research that suggests that anxiety plays a role in worsening Vulvodynia. Here’s how anxiety is connected to Vulvodynia:
Increased Sensitivity To Pain
Anxiety makes a person’s body more sensitive to pain. When a person becomes anxious, their body goes on high alert. This makes the pain more intense.
An anxious woman who has the condition of Vulvodynia experiences more pain as compared to other people.
Muscle Tension
Anxiety frequently causes muscle tension. This means that the muscles around the pelvic area and vulva become tight and tense. This tension contributes to increased pain in Vulvodynia. The pelvic floor muscles that support the pelvic organs also become tight and sore due to anxiety.
Stress Response
When a person becomes anxious, their body goes into fight or flight mode. This kind of stress response affects various body systems. It also includes those who are responsible for pain.
Chronic stress from having anxiety leads to increased sensitivity and inflammation. This makes the symptoms of Vulvodynia worse.
Impacts Immune System
Anxiety affects the immune system. A weakened immune system makes it harder for the body to fight off infections and manage inflammation. For a few women who have this condition, it could mean that anxiety indirectly contributes to their symptoms.
Psychological Impact
Living with chronic pain like Vulodynia leads to feelings of depression, frustration and increased anxiety. For a few women who have the condition of Vulvodynia, a cycle gets created where each condition makes the other worse.
By managing anxiety one can break this cycle. It also helps in improving overall well-being.
Ways Of Managing Vulvodynia
If you think anxiety is affecting your condition, then there are ways to manage it. Here is a list of some of the more popular ways how you can manage the condition:
Seeking Professional Help
Talk to a healthcare professional. You must do that. A doctor will be able to help diagnose vulvodynia and offer treatments accordingly. They will also address any underlying anxiety. If needed they can refer you to a mental health professional.
Get Therapy
The best treatment to get for managing this condition is CBT. CBT stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and helps in managing anxiety. It focuses on changing negative thought patterns by developing coping strategies. It is very useful for managing pain and reducing anxiety.
Relaxation Techniques
By practicing relaxation techniques like meditation, deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation, you can reduce both muscle tension and anxiety. These techniques also make it much easier to manage chronic pain.
Regular Exercise
Doing regular exercise helps in reducing anxiety and improves overall mood. By indulging in activities like swimming, walking or yoga, you can lower stress levels. This would also improve your muscle tension.
Join Support Groups
You can consider joining an online/offline support group for managing anxiety and Vulvodynia. They can give you the needed emotional support and practical advice. You will get comfort by sharing experiences with others who understand what you are going through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of some of the more frequently asked questions related to the topic:
Q. Is Vulvodynia Psychological?
A: In Spite of the role that depression and anxiety play in the condition, Vulvodynia is a real medical condition. It causes physical discomfort and pain when doing daily activities.
Unfortunately though, the awareness of the disorder is not widespread in the medical community.
Q. Who Is At More Risk Of Getting Vulvodynia?
A: Vulvodynia refers to a pain disorder. It is generally chronic in nature. The condition affects women of all ethnic groups and ages. It causes pain ranging from mild – excruciating and is both spontaneous and provokeable in nature.
Q. What Can Be Mistaken For Vulvodynia?
A: There are a few medical conditions which get mistaken as Vuvodynia. They are urinary tract infection, sexually transmitted disease or vaginal yeast infection.
Conclusion
While anxiety alone does not cause Vulvodynia, it contributes towards worsening the condition. Anxiety increases the severity of pain, causes muscle tension and impacts the overall well-being. This worsens the symptoms of Vulvodynia. Managing anxiety through relaxation techniques, and therapy and by leading a healthy lifestyle, one can control the symptoms of Vulvodynia.
If you have persistent pain then consider scheduling an appointment with your gynecologist. Contact Dr Swati G Bhattacharya today to get the best Gynecology services in Kolkata.