When was the last time you heard someone say they're avoiding something because of pain in their vulva or vagina? Unless you're a healthcare provider, the answer is probably: never. But vulvar and vaginal pain can be just as paralyzing as headaches or back pain. The difference? Most people who suffer from it don't talk about it, not even with their closest friends. They suffer quietly. Shamefully. Part of it is because the vulva and the vagina are still a taboo. You just don'

Jessica¹, a pregnant woman in her 30’s came to my clinic this summer. she had always suffered from pain during sexual intercourse, yet the first time she heard the word “Vulvodynia” was in her mid-pregnancy from her doula. It was the first time after years of bad sexual experiences, unable to understand her girlfriend’s stories of pleasure, whose advice and attempts to help didn’t work for her pain. During those years Jessica saw many gynecologists for routine examinations th