Vulva pain is a topic that is often not talked about, yet many women suffer from it. Vulva pain affects about 15% to 20% of women aged 18 to 50. In fact, over a quarter of women will have vulvodynia at some point in their lives (Reed BD et al. Prevalence and demographic characteristics of vulvodynia in a population-based sample. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2012 Feb;206(2):170.e1-170.e).
Unfortunately, as with many other intimate area conditions, vulva pain often goes untreated, as many women are too embarrassed to talk about it. It may be a taboo topic for women because of religious, cultural or societal influences, queue female-led societies like the “Vulval Pain Society” in the UK and the like, encouraging women to seek treatment and understand their bodies than suffer with the pain and discomfort.
Over the past 15 years, 2 Body Stress Release practitioners, in particular, have conducted multiple studies with gynaecologists in England to determine the effects of BSR on vulva pain. They have had favourable results showing that BSR may be a viable treatment option for these women rather than surgeries and medications.
Let’s look at some critical terminology to understand vulva pain:
Vulvodynia is a chronic, unexplained pain in the area around the opening of the vagina. Vulvodynia can be so uncomfortable that some activities can feel unbearable, such as sitting for long periods or having sex. Symptoms include burning and rawness in the genital area. Pain may be constant or occasional, lasting for months or even years.
Vaginismus is an involuntary tensing of the vagina. People experience it at the start of sex while inserting a tampon or getting a pelvic exam. Vaginismus can make intercourse painful (dyspareunia).
Vestibulodynia is pain that occurs at the entrance (vestibule) to the vagina. Pain may also occur in other external parts of your genitals or vulva. Vestibulodynia is a form of vulvodynia or severe and long-lasting (chronic) vulvar pain that occurs for no known reason.
What can cause vulva pain & discomfort?
A common link exists between a previous back and coccyx injury and the subsequent onset of vulval pain.
Examples of past injuries sustained include:
- Falling downstairs.
- Falling off a horse.
- Slipping on ice.
- Skiing and sporting accidents.
Some women may have also developed vulval pain or vaginismus following surgery.
Unfortunately for some women, a substantial time may pass between the injury and the onset of vulval pain or tightness. Over this period, the body reaches a state of stress overload, presenting as vulval pain and other systematic symptoms such as IBS, indigestion, constipation, recurring UTI and cramps.
The good news is that in releasing the tension, with Body Stress Release treatment, the lower back, sacrum, coccyx, and pelvic areas encourage the vulval and pelvic floor muscles to relax and the neuromuscular system to regain balance, therefore reducing pain.
So how will Body Stress Release help with vulva pain?
Our body reacts by contracting to protect itself after a trauma like;
- surgeries,
- accidents,
- inflammation in our bodies,
- repetitive movements, divorce etc.
This contraction causes deep muscle contractions. It puts pressure on surrounding structures. Nerves get trapped, causing pain in various degrees. You might experience stiffness, numbness, or postural distortion. The resulting nerve compression disturbs the body’s communication system and undermines normal functioning.
Concerning vulva pain, the pudendal nerve is most commonly affected; this is the motor nerve originating from the sacrum carrying signals to and from the urethra, genitals, and anal area. Tight or painful muscles in the middle and lower back may also affect vulva pain since these muscles also insert into the pelvic area and exert pressure on the relevant nerve pathways. Tension in the nerve pathways may result in a burning feeling, loss of sensation, numbness, tightness, stabbing, knife-like or aching pain in the genital region.
Meet Body Stress Release Therapist Laura
As a BSR practitioner, Laure will do a series of pressure tests through the entire body by activating the neuro-muscular reflexes to determine where the body is holding tension; since the body functions as a whole, it is crucial to understand that the origin of the pain is not necessarily in the area of pain.
The body is used as a biofeedback mechanism, and its response indicates the exact sites of the locked-in tension. Then we use light but definite pressure in the precise direction to enable the tension to release and restore full body communication. This is the remarkable difference between Body Stress Release and all other healing modalities.
All patients respond at different rates, and many other factors could determine your complete recovery from vulva pain with BSR. Laura Sinnema, the Lusaka Chiropractic & Wellness BSR practitioner, has worked with many women suffering from vulva pain and other related conditions. Most of them have achieved significant relief from their pain and discomfort, which in some cases, they had been experiencing for many years.
If you want to learn more about this topic and how Laura can help you, please call our reception to talk to Laura or email us here.
