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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffDoctors don't know what causes vulvodynia, but contributing factors may include:
- Injury to or irritation of the nerves surrounding your vulvar region
- Past vaginal infections
- Allergies or a localized hypersensitivity of your skin
Many women with vulvodynia have a history of treatment for recurrent vaginitis or vaginal yeast infections. Some women with the condition have a history of sexual abuse. But most women with vulvodynia have no known contributing factors. Vulvodynia isn't sexually transmitted or a sign of cancer.
- Boardman LA, et al. Benign vulvovaginal disorders. In: Gibbs RS, et al. Danforth's Obstetrics and Gynecology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008:625.
- Stewart EG. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of generalized vulvodynia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 18, 2009.
- Vulvodynia. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp127.cfm. Accessed April 1, 2009.
- Haefner HK, et al. The vulvodynia guideline. Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease. 2005;9:40.
- Harlow BL, et al. A population-based assessment of chronic unexplained vulvar pain: Have we underestimated the prevalence of vulvodynia? Journal of the American Medical Women's Association. 2003;58:82.
- Stewart EG. Treatment of vulvar pain syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 18, 2009.
- Self-help tips for vulvar skin care. National Vulvodynia Association. http://www.nva.org/patient_services/Self_Help_Tips.html. Accessed May 18, 2009.
