Vulvodynia: Current Trends in Treatment & New Research | Andrea Rapkin, MD | UCLAMDChat

Hi! I suffer from this disorder! It took me over a year to get a proper diagnosis! It’s nice to know I’m not alone. ❤️ Luckily my vagina is pretty mellow these days! I had a small amount of therapy pre-Covid and that did help! Heck, just getting my diagnosis helped! 😌 I hope everyone else suffering gains help!

THIS IS WHAT HELPED ME: I've had the same Problem for a few months now. After doing a lot of research, I found pelvic floor release stretch videos on YouTube. After stretching twice a day and really focusing in relaxation downwards for two weeks, the pain is almost gone!!! Sex is finaly possible and the pain on the toilet went away!! What I didn't know is that my Vulvodynia was caused by a constant contracted pelvic floor (caused by stress/anxienty). You need to stretch your muscles and massage your trigger points (hurtful inflammed spots on the area of your vagina, butt, legs and anus caused by the constant contraction of your pelvic floor) a few times a day. Try it out, but be patient with your body. For me, the stretches were absolutely life changing!!

Am glad I come across this ur message, now I can take some the medical to the doctor to see if he can make pelvic exam

This was wonderful. Thank you.

Hi . Can you advise me please. Iv had a burning feeling down below for 10 months. Doctor has given me estrogen pessories & cream but it’s not helping me. I have been using them for 5 months. Do I have Vulvodynia or lichen sclerosus. Please advise me. Thankyou

Many different things can cause Vulvodynia, it’s kind of an umbrella term. In my case, what happened was I took a lot of antibiotics for a UTI, like four weeks of antibiotics. And it did get rid of the UTI but it also got rid of bacteria in the digestive system that digests plant oxalates. Oxalates are like these toxins that are usually digested but if you don’t have the right bacteria to digest them, they form sharp microscopic crystals they can give you a feeling of vaginal pain or sometimes urinary pain.

Thank you for this video. I was feeling very alone in this and don't feel like I will get better because there is limited information and limited specialists in my city in Australia. I would like to take your messages here to my doctor and see if it helps. Thank you again

Does Pcos may related to this condition? Thanks!

Wow veery informative

Dear dr Rapkin, do you have some experience with PRP therapy of vulvodynia?

I’ve read Emu oil helps but I’ve never tried it.

this isn't a death metal album. :(

I have the same symptoms you're describing . I seen so many doctors and am still in pain still have the same symptoms you're describing. I want to fix this it's gone for a 10years now

I developed vulvodynia after intercourse along with a UTI. I also had laparoscopic surgery to remove my endometriosis. Not sure if this happened because of my surgery. I am currently pregnant with excruciating pain in my vagina. 😢Any suggestions to get some relief its so painful 😓

Please help me! I am with UCLA but they are not getting the mesh out and I am in deep dark pelvic pain! The worst pain ever. Worse then child birth. Can you please please please help me. 2435871.

Not liking this new direction Vulvodynia is going with. Why do bands always go soft as soon as they’re popular?

This isn’t a music video?

Mine started after hysterectomy and a Burch colosuspention

You didn't say anything about nerve blocks

I have this, and it sucks, and gabapentin made me very angry and tired all the time, and lidocaine cream literally burns. I can't really have sex. At this point i just stopped trying to treat it.