Is the vagina sore, sore, and hot? here are 9 ways to treat it

Do you often complain of vaginal pain and experience intense pain? This condition in medical language is called vulvodynia, which is pain, burning, itching, or burning in the vulva or the area around the vagina.

For some women, vulvodynia causes chronic pain that is bothersome enough to have an impact on the ability to have sex, ride a bicycle, use sanitary pads, sit for a long time, or even wear tights. So, how do you deal with the pain around the vagina? Read on to find out about vulvodynia treatments in this article.

Causes of vulvodynia

Keep in mind, until now doctors do not know the exact cause of vulvodynia. However, reproductive health experts say that vulvodynia is not transmitted by sexual contact, nor is it a sign of cancer. That is why, the causes of this condition are still being studied.

But there are several factors that can play a role in making the vagina sore and painful, including:

• Injury or irritation of nerves in the area around the vulva
• Vaginal infection
• Local skin allergy or hypersensitivity
• Hormonal changes

Vulvodynia treatment to relieve vaginal aches and pains

Vulvodynia is difficult to treat because there is no identifiable cause. Even so, there are still several treatments available to relieve the painful symptoms of this condition. In addition, the treatment offered to each woman may vary. So don't be surprised, if there are women who may take weeks or even months to carry out this treatment. These treatment options include:

1. Medicines

Some pain relievers such as steroids, tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsants can help reduce chronic pain. In addition, antihistamine drugs can also reduce itching in the area around the vagina.

2. Biofeedback therapy

Therapy biofeedback is a therapy that can help reduce pain by teaching sufferers to control the body's response to certain stimuli. The purpose of biofeedback is to help the patient relax more in order to reduce the sensation of pain.

For patients who experience vaginal pain, therapy biofeedback can teach patients how to relax tense pelvic muscles as they interact with chronic pain. So that patients are expected to be able to anticipate pain so as not to feel chronic pain by strengthening their pelvic floor.

3. Local anesthesia

Medicines, such as lidocaine ointment, can provide temporary relief to relieve symptoms. Your doctor may recommend using lidocaine 30 minutes before sexual intercourse to reduce discomfort. If using lidocaine ointment, partners may also experience temporary numbness after sexual contact.

4. Nerve block

Treatment for women who have been experiencing pain in the vaginal area for a long time and it doesn't get better after doing some of the treatment options mentioned above, you can do a local nerve block injection. Consult a doctor first before doing this action.

5. Pelvic floor therapy

Generally, women who experience vulvodynia have problems with the pelvic floor muscles. The pelvic floor muscles are the muscles that support the uterus, bladder, and intestines. Exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles can help relieve pain around the vagina caused by vulvodynia.

6. Acupuncture

According to a recent study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, acupuncture may be effective in helping to reduce vulvodynia pain and improve sexual function.

7. Psychotherapy

Excess stress and intense pain due to feeling pain in the vagina, for some women will have an impact on how he processes pain in his brain. So one of the goals of doing psychotherapy is to reduce the severity of pain and reduce the impact of pain. Especially to improve sexual relations.

According to a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine it turns out that psychotherapy is an effective way to reduce sexual pain or improve female sexual function.

8. Operation

Surgery is the last option when various treatments are no longer effective to relieve pain in the vaginal area. In cases where the affected area involves a small area (local vulvodynia, vulvar vestibulitis), surgery to remove the affected skin and tissue can reduce pain in some women. This surgical procedure is known as a vestibulectomy.

9. Home care

In addition to the treatments described above, vulvodynia treatments can also be done at home to reduce symptoms or prevent symptoms from recurring. The following are vulvodynia treatments that you can do at home, namely:

• Use laundry detergent that is according to doctor's recommendations and is not irritating.
• Wear cotton underwear.
• Do not use feminine cleansing soap, sanitary napkins, tampons, or contraceptive creams that contain perfumes or harsh chemicals.
• Use pants and clothes that are loose and not tight (don't use stockings).
• Try to keep your vulva area clean and dry.
• Avoid swimming in pools that contain a lot of chlorine.
• Washing the vagina with warm water.
• Do Kegel exercises.

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