Ep #4: Vulvodynia with Dr. Andrew T. Goldstein

Vulvodynia is a chronic pain condition characterized by discomfort, burning, or pain in the vulvar area (the entire vulva or only the vestibule)  without any obvious cause or visible abnormalities. The vulva refers to the external female genitalia, including the labia majora and minora and clitoris. The vestibule is the vaginal opening.

Symptoms of vulvodynia can vary in intensity and may be constant or intermittent. The exact cause of vulvodynia is often unclear and may involve various factors such as nerve inflammation or sensitivity, hormonal changes, pelvic floor muscle involvement, or inflammation or infectious causes. It can also be associated with conditions like pelvic floor dysfunction or chronic yeast infections, although these are not always present.

In this episode, we discuss Vulvodynia with Dr. Andrew T. Goldstein. A Clinical Professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Past-President of the ISSWSH, Dr. Goldstein will shed light on vulvodynia, an often misunderstood condition affecting women’s sexual health.

Featured in this episode:

• Vulvodynia Symptoms and Causes
• History of Vulvodynia 
• When Sex Hurts: Understanding and Healing Pelvic Pain by Andrew Goldstein MD, Caroline Pukall PhD, Irwin Goldstein MD, Dr. Jill Krapf
• Vulvodynia Developed Diagnostics
• Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists

Resources:

• The Centers For Vulvovaginal Disorders
• National Vulvodynia Association
• ISSWSH 
• International Pelvic Pain Society

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