Causes

Causes of vaginal pain are as varied as the woman herself. Anatomy, intimate patterns and medical history all play a part. Whether your pain is little or a lot, Do not let your butterfly suffer. Below are some of the most common causes:

1. Painful urination: the medical term for this is Dysuria. Although men have this issue too, it is found more often in women. Painful urination causes vaginal pain in both the inside the vagina or outer area of the vagina. Exactly where you hurt indicates different types of infections.
2. Vaginal dryness: pain due to vaginal dryness is a real, well, pain! The effects of dryness run over into many areas of life. Physical discomfort and even psychological stress play into vaginal pain due to vaginal dryness.  It affects a woman’s intimate life.
3. Vaginal yeast infection: vaginal pain due to vaginal yeast infection is so common 3 out of 4 women will have one at some point. Unlike some causes of pain that occur mostly in middle to older aged women, with vaginal yeast infections the age range is wider. Factors like taking certain antibiotics, physical activity habits and medical conditions like diabetes all make women prone to this common dilemma. Vaginal yeast infections range from mild to moderate. Many times, they cause severe discomfort and disruption in daily life.
4. Medical conditions: pelvic inflammatory disease and endometriosis are the two medical conditions most closely tied to vaginal pain. Both of these conditions cause pain during sexual intercourse. They also cause pain during the monthly menstrual cycle. Both PID and endometriosis are only diagnosed through a female pelvic exam.
5. Sexual intercourse: pain that occurs during sexual intercourse is also known as vulvodynia. Because tampon insertion is frequently an issue, this condition often affects your choice of female hygiene products. After ruling out infection and other possible factors, this is usually treated with topical creams to relieve nerve sensitivity.
6. Sexually Transmitted Disease: Many times, STDs cause pain as well as blisters or warts. It’s important to recognize that although STDs were once considered rare, some types, such as herpes (HPV) occur in millions of Americans today. Some strains of HPV actually lead to certain cancers. For this reason, regardless of your age or lifestyle, an open and honest conversation with Dr. Pettigrew is crucial. It is necessary to properly diagnose and treat the root cause of your pain and make a future plan together.