It’s unlikely that British philosopher Francis Bacon imagined that his phrase “knowledge is power” would find its way into the blog of a sexual dysfunction clinic centuries after he coined it. But In an interview with Scienceline, our Clinical Director, Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus, recalls his words of wisdom when she says: “It breaks my …
Continue ReadingDiagnosing Dyspareunia (Addressing Painful Sex)
Dyspereunia. Admittedly, it’s not a flowery word, and it’s not a walk in the park for those who are diagnosed with it. Dyspereunia is an umbrella term that describes several types of pain that women may experience with vagianl penetration. Discomfort in the vulvar region or pain with intercourse, vaginal muscle spasms that prevent penetration …
Continue ReadingPainful Sex? Don’t Suffer in Silence
Unfortunately, many women who experience painful intercourse suffer for months, even years, before finding relief. Many women persist with having painful intercourse in silence, some not even telling their partners, because they keep hoping it will get better on its own. Often, when women do seek treatment they feel that their concerns are brushed aside, …
Continue ReadingWhat is Vulvodynia?
Vulvodynia is an unexplained pain at the vaginal opening for greater than 3 months. Other terms are vulvar vestibulitis, vestibulodynia, or vulvar vestibulitis syndrome. Some studies show that as any as 16% of women have suffered from vulvodynia at some point in their lives, but it is difficult to estimate, because many women don’t report …
Continue ReadingYou May Not Need The Vestibulodynia Surgery After All!
So you’ve been told you need surgery for your Vestibulodynia. Maybe you do. And maybe you don’t. A new treatment protocol might make that surgery unnecessary. Provoked Vestibuloydynia (PVD) is clinically defined as chronic, unexplained, vulvar pain or discomfort in the vulvar area in response to any type of pressure. The pain may be in …
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