Uncomfortable symptoms like burning, stinging, or painful sexual intercourse can indicate vaginal health problems. If you experience those symptoms, come see Neeraj Kohli, MD, MBA at Boston Urogyn in Wellesley, Massachusetts right away. He specializes in women’s reproductive health conditions and can help you find relief. If you’ve been dealing with persistent and unpleasant vaginal or vulvar symptoms, call Boston Urogyn or schedule an appointment online to learn more about advanced treatments for vulvovaginal diseases.
Vulvovaginal disease is an infection or inflammation of your external genitalia. Some vulvar problems associated with vulvovaginal disease include:
If you have any of these conditions, you might experience so much discomfort that you can’t engage in sexual activity.
Vulvodynia is chronic vulvar pain with an unknown cause. Although the type of pain and the area of the vulva that hurts can vary, many women report a burning sensation.
When you have vulvodynia, you may experience relatively constant pain. Activities that can worsen your symptoms include sitting, sexual intercourse, and other activities that apply pressure to your entire vulva. Pain at a single vulvar site characterizes other types of vulvodynia.
Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) is a vulvovaginal disease where cells become abnormal or change in appearance. VIN isn’t cancer, but the cells can become cancerous. There are two types of VIN.
This is more common in women aged 30-40 and associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV).
This is less common, seen in women aged 50-60, and not associated with HPV
Neither sort of VIN produces symptoms at first, but a persistent itch often develops. Additional symptoms might include burning, soreness, or tingling in the vulva and painful intercourse.
Lichen sclerosus is an uncommon vulvovaginal disease that manifests as white, patchy skin on the vulva that’s thinner than normal. Additional symptoms include:
The exact cause of lichen sclerosus is unknown, but your hormones and immune system might play a role. As such, postmenopausal women often have a higher risk of developing lichen sclerosus.
Vulvovaginal disease is complicated because its causes vary. As such, Dr. Kohli provides specialized and customized care for vulvovaginal diseases. Depending on your particular condition, your treatment plan might include a mix of medications, physical therapy, behavioral therapy, and minimally invasive surgical techniques.
If you suspect that you have a vulvovaginal disease or need a customized treatment plan, call Boston Urogyn or book an appointment online to learn about your treatment options.
