Painful Genital Condition in Women Linked to Tight Jeans, Hair Removal

PainRelief.com: What are the main findings?

Response: Compared to women who reported never wearing tight fitting jeans or pants, women wearing tight fitting jeans or pants 4 times per week or more were twice as likely to have vulvodynia. Also, among women who chose to remove pubic hair, those who removed pubic hair from the mons pubis compared to bikini-area only hair removal, were about 70% more likely to have vulvodynia.

PainRelief.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Creating a healthy environment for the genital area is good public health practice. Allowing the area to be less restricted on occasion is probably a good hygienic practice. In addition, removing pubic hair directly on or near the vaginal opening may create a greater opportunity for micro abrasions that can lead to inflammation which may be a precursor to this condition.   

PainRelief.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: We would like to see new research confirm these findings, particularly in studies where we can better assess the temporal sequence between these lifestyle and hygienic practices and new onset of vulvar pain.

PainRelief.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: This research was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Harlow and his colleagues carried out this research at the Boston University School of Public Health.

Citation:

Effect of gabapentin on sexual function in vulvodynia: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Bachmann, Gloria A.Dawicki, Diane et al.

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Volume 220 , Issue 1 , 89.e1 – 89.e8

https://www.ajog.org/action/showCitFormats?pii=S0002-9378%2818%2930905-0&doi=10.1016%2Fj.ajog.2018.10.021

[wysija_form id=”3″]

[last-modified]

The information on PainRelief.com is provided for educational purposes only, and is in no way intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical or other condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In addition to all other limitations and disclaimers in this agreement, service provider and its third party providers disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the content provided on this website.

Last Updated on May 14, 2019 by PainRelief.com