Pain Disorders

Individuals who have these symptoms may feel embarrassed and might not want to talk about what they are going through (26). However if you are experiencing any of these symptoms it is very important to get professional medical help as proper treatment can help to determine the underlying cause as well as relieve discomfort and pain!

Pain Disorders
Chronic Pelvic Pain
Dyspareunia
Vaginismus
Genito-pelvic pain
Vulvodynia

Chronic Pelvic Pain(28)

What is it?

Chronic pelvic pain is when a person has pain in the pelvic area (below the navel and between the hips) for a period of 6 months or more (28).

Possible causes include:

  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Endometriosis
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disorder (PID)
  • Adhesions in the pelvis
  • Ectopic pregnancies
Psychological factors such as:
  • Abuse, Chronic stress & Depression can also lead to chronic pelvic disease

Symptoms can include

  • Pain in the pelvic area:
    • Achy and dull pain
    • Sharp and cramping pain
    • Pain can be irregular or constant
  • Pelvic heaviness or pressure.
  • Pain when having a bowel movement
  • Painful sexual intercourse

Treatment

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms it is very important to get professional medical help as proper treatment can help to determine the underlying cause as well as managing discomfort and pain!

Treatment often includes:

  • Treating underlying cause of chronic pelvic pain
  • Pain management
  • Taking prescribed medication
  • Surgery in severe cases

Dyspareunia

is defined as "abnormal pain during sexual intercourse" (26). It can be associated with vaginal dryness and not having enough natural lubricant produced (28).

Vaginismus

is when the vaginal muscles spasm randomly (29). Primary vaginismus is when a person has pain or has been unable to insert anything into their vagina (30). Secondary, or acquired vaginismus, is when a person develops pain during penetrative sex, but has previously had vaginal sex in the past without any pain (30).

Genito-pelvic pain

or penetration disorder is when an individual has both dyspareunia and vaginismus (29).

Symptoms may include: difficulty or pain with tampon insertion, penetrative sex, or both due to the tightening of the vaginal muscles; or the feeling of tension, burning, or pain during penetration. This pain can cause fear and stress that can lead to the avoidance of sex as well as decreasing a person’s desire for sex (29).

Vulvodynia

is long term pain and discomfort lasting more than three months around the vulva, where your vaginal opening is. Symptoms include pain, burning, and irritation, making it very uncomfortable to sit and have sexual intercourse (26).

RESOURCES

  • 26. Mayo Clinic. Vulvodynia [Internet]. [place unknown]: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2020 Jul 23 [cited 2022 Jan 22]. [LINK]
  • 28. Lewis SL, Bucher L, Heitkemper MM, Harding MM, Barry MA, Lok J, et. al. Medical-surgical nursing in Canada. 4th Canadian ed. Milton (Ontario): Elsevier Canada Ltd; 2019.
  • 29. Kozier B, Erb G, Berman A, Snyder S, Frandsen G, Buck M, et. al. Fundamentals of Canadian nursing. concepts, process and practice. 4th Canadian ed. Don Mills (Ontario): Pearson Canada Inc; 2018.
  • 30. Goodman, Brenda. Vaginismus [Internet]. [place unknown]: WebMD; c2005-2022 [reviewed 2020 Mar 22; cited 2022 Jan 22]. [LINK]