Vulvar pain, what's wrong with women

The vulva is a private part of women and is one of the parts that is most likely to develop various symptoms due to infection. For example, many women have problems with vulvar swelling and pain. This situation is likely caused by Candida infection, genetic factors, or iatrogenic factors, psychological factors, or sexual psychological factors. Here are some common causes of vulvar pain!

1. Candida infection

A history of vulvovaginal candidiasis is the only most consistent feature in patients with vestibulitis, but inappropriate and repeated use of topical antifungal drugs can also cause these symptoms. Furthermore, the Candida colonization rate was not higher in patients with vestibulitis than in controls. The etiology of cyclic vulvitis is unknown, but Candida albicans may be a potential cause and anticandidal therapy is usually effective.

2. Iatrogenic factors

Patients with vulvar pain often have a history of multiple use of topical medications. Because the protective barrier function of the stratum corneum of the vulvar skin is not as good as that of the skin in other parts of the body, vulvar irritation caused by topical medications is more common. Irritation is unlikely to be the cause of the initial symptoms, but it may prolong symptoms of vulvar pain. The incidence of allergic sensitization is not increased in this lesion, and there is no histological evidence to confirm or exclude the occurrence of allergic contact dermatitis.

3. Psychological and psychosexual factors

Patients with vulvar pain have obvious psychological and sexual psychopathology, but whether these can cause symptoms remains controversial. Lack of sexual arousal during intercourse can cause decreased lubrication and lead to vulvovaginal irritation, while cyclical vulvar irritation symptoms can produce vulvar pain. However, several studies have not shown that the incidence of unpleasant sexual experiences or promiscuity in patients is higher than that in the control group, and their sexual partners do not have obvious sexual psychological disorders.

4. Genetic quality

Vulvodynia is more common in whites and less common in blacks and Asians, and it is unclear whether this is a true genetic predisposition or the influence of sociodemographic factors.

5. Dietary factors

Some scholars speculate that vulvar pain is related to hyperoxaluria, and sharp oxalate crystals contacting the epithelial surface cause severe burning pain. However, the patients' 24-hour urinary oxalate excretion was not higher than that of the control group. After 3 months of treatment with calcium citrate combined with a low-oxalate diet, only 10% of the cases recovered. Therefore, urinary oxalate is unlikely to be the cause of vulvodynia, but it may act as a nonspecific irritant and aggravate vulvodynia.