Support

There are various factors that are thought to contribute to the development of acquired nerve-related vulvodynia. Research is flawed as currently the internationally recognised diagnosis of 'vulvodynia' encompasses multiple different conditions that all converge to cause similar symptoms.

 

For example, low levels of oestrogen and testosterone during menopause may cause the vestibule tissue to become irritated without nerve problems. This however would still be called 'vulvodynia' and so when researchers do studies they may include women with different conditions that don't react to the same treatment the same as they have different causes. The 2015 meeting between ISSVD, ISSWSH and IPPS highlights this and provides more insight. 

​

With this in mind, we've written some rudimentary information from studies that may increase the risk of getting nerve-related vestibulodynia from thrush. 

​

​

Genetic immunity flaws

Genes linked to an overactive inflammatory response, (e.g. IL-1beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist, and mannose-binding lectin (MBL),) are associated with both vulvodynia and an increased susceptibility to yeast infections.

 

A variant of the Dectin-1 receptor gene has been implicated in the heightened inflammatory response to yeast and other fungi in vulvodynia patients. Research also suggests a contribution of the 5HT-2A serotonin receptor gene to the pain aspects of vulvodynia and increased pain sensitivity. 

​

Mast Cell Disorders​

​

Regauer (2016) highlights "About of 70% of vulvodynia patients had concomitant diseases with mast cell activation (infections, allergies to penicillin, food, animal hair, house dust mites, and atopy, extra-genital psoriasis, anti-phospholipid syndrome, idiopathic biliary sclerosis, fibromyalgia and histamine intolerance)."​

​

hEDS and Hypermobility​

​

Glayzer et al (2021) highlighted there may be a link between Ehlers Danlos syndrome, finding "Women with EDS or HSD may have a higher rate of vulvodynia (50.0%) than women in the U.S. population at large (8%) ." ​

​

In hEDS, collagen is structurally different, making connective tissue more fragile and stretchy.

This can lead to pelvic floor instability, microtrauma, and irritation of vulvar tissues, potentially sensitising local nerves and contributing to vulvodynia. hEDS and hypermobility patients often also have mast cell issues. 

​

Other Chronic Pain Syndromes​

​

​Soogoor and Narampanawe (2024) summarised the link between vulvodynia and other chronic pain conditions. They note "one study found that 66% of women with vulvodynia had at least one other chronic condition associated with it." 

The authors also highlight that "there is a strong link has been found between fibromyalgia, chronic musculoskeletal pain, and vulvodynia. " And that "women with vulvodynia are approximately 2 to 3 times more likely to also have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)." 

​

Clearly, this gives us clues that for some patients with vulvodynia, there is nervous system dysfunction in relation to the processing of pain. 

​

Mental Health​

​​​

It's with caution we discuss how mental health can be associated with the development of vulvodynia. 

​

Medicine has a long history of attributing pain to psychological trauma, particularly in the context of women's health. 

​

Hysteria was the broad term used to diagnose various female ailments and wasn't removed from the psychology's diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM) until 1980. 

​

Gabor Mate has become very popular with his theory that women suffer from more autoimmune conditions due to repressed anger. However the exact biological underpinnings to consolidate this theory remain elusive. When we zoom out to the broader context of women's health, we live in a world where less than 1% global research goes into non-cancerous female-specific health conditions. The role for example, that oestrogen and progesterone plays within the immune system is still being explored and in this vacuum of knowledge, people are making a lot of money economising on 'nervous system regulation' therapies.

​

That being said, there seems to be a link between childhood trauma and chronic pain syndromes in later life. ​Khandker et al (2014) highlights: "Among women with a history of severe childhood abuse, those with vulvodynia, had 3 times the odds of living in fear of any abuse, compared to women without vulvodynia. Among women with no history of childhood abuse, those with vulvodynia had over 6 times the odds of antecedent mood disorder compared to women without vulvodynia."​

​

It's hypothesised that during childhood, the brain is trained to be hypervigilant against threats and the nervous system becomes wired to be hypersensitive to pain. It's important to note however, that many women have experienced trauma and have not go on to develop vulvodynia. And many women with vulvodynia have not had any childhood trauma.

 

Nikki of US-based vulvodynia advocacy organisation: Tight Lipped, shares how she was incorrectly diagnosed with trauma when in fact she had congenital neuroproliferative vestibulodynia and was cured by a vestibulectomy. 

​

​