Things to Know About Vaginal Pain — Causes and Treatment

There are many causes of vaginal pain. It usually occurs because of an injury or infection in the vaginal region. So, let us check out the different forms of vaginal pain and the corresponding vaginal pain treatment.

Vaginal pain causes

Some of the common reasons for vaginal pain include:

• Infection

A yeast infection is one of the major causes of vaginal pain. At a certain point in her life, every woman contracts a yeast infection. This infection does not necessarily arise due to sexual intercourse. The infection causes some unwanted vaginal discharge. Women may experience a cottage cheese kind of discharge emanating from the vagina and giving out a foul smell. Apart from the discharge, you may also experience burning and itching, which also leads to pain in your vagina. In this case, you should seek vaginal itching treatment.

Bacterial vaginosis is also a common type of vaginal infection which causes vaginal pain. This condition is mainly observed in sexually active women. Bacterial vaginosis mainly causes symptoms like itching, pain, discomfort during sex, fishy odour and burning sensation in the vaginal region. 

• Physical trauma

Physical trauma, such as an injury to the vulva or the vagina, could cause the symptom of vaginal pain. Cuts due to shaving or any injury at the time of childbirth can also cause vaginal pain. The vaginal tear during childbirth which may extend up to the perineum, i.e., the region between the anus and the vagina, could also cause vaginal pain. The labia or clitoris could also tear at the time of childbirth leading to vaginal pain. 

The gynaecologist generally stitches up the tear if it is serious. These stitches dissolve with time and don’t require any removal.

• Pelvic injury or floor muscle dysfunction

Any damage to the pelvic floor muscles can cause vaginal pain, along with backache, pain or tightness in the stomach and other muscles in the body. The factors that cause injury or damage the pelvic floor muscles include:

• Episiotomy, which is a surgical incision procedure to expand the opening of the vagina up to the perineum during labour pain to facilitate childbirth
• Injury during childbirth
• Pregnancy
• Age

Some of the women who suffer from pelvic floor muscle dysfunction also undergo incontinence, especially while jumping or sneezing. Some may even experience pain or faecal incontinence or both when they pass stools.

• Vulvodynia

This condition is described as chronic and prolonged pain around the region that surrounds the vagina. And this chronic pain is not a result of any medical condition, skin disease or an infection. Vulvodynia affects approximately 21% of sexually active women. The signs of vulvodynia can be further described as a sharp and stabbing pain, itching, burning and immense discomfort. The degree of pain, however, varies, but is generally continuous and intensifies during intercourse. Vaginal pain treatment can help you manage this condition.

The actual symptoms and causes of vulvodynia cannot be fully understood or acknowledged. The diagnosis of vulvodynia involves several tests to find the different causes of vaginal pain to arrive after vulvodynia. If you experience such kind of pain, then it is better to visit a private gynaecologist in London.

• Bartholin cysts or lumps

A pair of glands called Bartholin glands are located on both the sides of the lips of the vagina. They secrete the lubricating fluid to moisturise the vagina. If these glands get blocked and are not able to secrete the lubricants, it results in the development of a cyst or a lump. The cyst would feel like a pimple or a hard lump. The lump occurs when the fluids accumulate within the glands and are not able to come out, resulting in the swelling or lump. And you may require a vaginal swelling treatment. Sometimes, the cyst grows quickly and gets infected, which causes intense pain in the vagina. If you see such a lump, then seek treatment from a private gynaecologist.

 Treatment

For any vaginal pain treatment, the underlying cause needs to be determined. Most women go for either of these treatments:

• Vaginal pain or vaginal itching treatment would generally depend on the causes. For sexually transmitted infections, such as bacterial vaginosis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia, antibiotics are used to treat the condition. Physical injuries like deep or infected wounds can also get treated with the help of antibiotics.

• For vaginal swelling treatment arising out of yeast injection, the doctor would recommend over-the-counter medications or oral antifungal medicines. The doctor would generally prescribe the medicine to get vaginal discharge testing.

These are some of the common causes of vaginal pain and the resultant methods for vaginal pain treatment. If you are experiencing any of the above conditions and want to get a vaginal discharge testing, then you must visit the gynaecology clinic today.