(HealthDay News) -- Vulvodynia is the pain that occurs around a woman's vagina, and it can be widely under-recognized and under-reported.
Symptoms may include burning, itching, pain and painful intercourse, but, according to the Mayo Clinic, there are ways to get help.
Medications, such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants, can alleviate pain, while antihistamines can reduce itching. Local anesthetics, such as lidocaine, and topical creams that contain estrogen can also help.
A process known as biofeedback can also help treat vulvodynia. Biofeedback helps a patient relax to decrease a pain sensation and teaches one how to control specific body responses.
Finally, sitz baths, or soaking in a saline solution, can help alleviate some pain, but patients are advised that these baths have the potential to aggravate the condition more.
