Free

E-newsletter

Subscribe to Housecall

Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

Sign up now

Tests and diagnosis

By Mayo Clinic staff

Before diagnosing vulvodynia, your doctor will ask you several questions to get a better idea of your medical history and to understand the location, nature and extent of your symptoms.

As part of his or her evaluation, your doctor may also perform these tests:

  • Pelvic exam. During this exam, your doctor visually examines your external genitals and vagina for signs of infection or some other cause of your vulvodynia symptoms. Even if there's no visual evidence of infection, your doctor may take a sample of cells from your vagina to test for a vaginal infection, such as a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis.
  • Cotton swab test. During this test, your doctor uses a moistened cotton swab to gently check for specific, localized areas of pain in your vulvar region.
Treatments and drugs Preparing for your appointment
References
  1. Stewart EG. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of generalized vulvodynia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 21, 2011.
  2. Stewart EG. Treatment of vulvar pain syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 21, 2011.
  3. Self-help tips for vulvar skin care. National Vulvodynia Association. http://www.nva.org/Self_Help_Tips.html. Accessed May 23, 2011.
  4. Vulvodynia. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp127.cfm. Accessed May 23, 2011.
  5. Kingdon J. Vulvodynia: A comprehensive review. Nursing for Women's Health. 2009;13:48.
  6. Groysman V. Vulvodynia: New concepts and review of the literature. Dermatological Clinics. 2010;28:681.
  7. Danby CS, et al. Approach to the diagnosis and treatment of vulvar pain. Dermatologic Therapy. 2010;23:485.
DS00159 July 15, 2011

© 1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

  • Reprints
  • Print

  • Share on:

  • Email

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger