Yes, you read that right, we really did ask ‘is your vagina depressed?’ Remember that iconic scene in Sex and The City when Charlotte gets diagnosed with a depressed vagina? Well, it turns out it’s a very real thing…

…in fact the correct term for a depressed vagina

as Charlotte describes in the scene is vulvodynia; a persistent, unexplained pain around the vulva which can affect approximately one in ten women.

What do the experts say?

We spoke with femfresh Health Expert Dr Frankie Jackson-Spence who knows all about the issue and how it may affect women physically and mentally. Dr Frankie said,

Everything may look normal down below, but women can experience a persistent unexplained pain which may feel sore like a burning, stinging or throbbing pain. This is medically described as vulvodynia which can affect women of all ages and be very distressing, affecting their mood and relationships, with some women, unfortunately, feeling embarrassed to talk about it. Women should consult their doctor if they notice any change to rule out other causes such as thrush, urine infections and sexually transmitted infections before attributing to the discomfort to vulvodynia.

What causes a vagina to become depressed?

Unfortunately, the cause for vulvodynia is still unknown, but medical experts believe it is due to pain receptors around the intimate skin being too sensitive to touch, which could have been caused by childbirth or even trapped nerves. Dr Frankie emphasised,

as there are no definitive treatments for vulvodynia, it’s very important to ensure symptoms are not due to infection, which can be easily treated, with some cases often prescribed with a type of anti-depressant.

Quoting the scene with Charlotte and her doctor in Sex and The City, Dr Frankie said,

it’s a [actually a] myth that your vagina is depressed, but instead, these certain anti-depressants are good for treating ‘neuropathic pain’ which is caused by hypersensitivity of nerve endings.”

What does Dr Frankie recommend?

Now if Charlotte’s vagina journal isn’t the right solution for you, Dr Frankie offers some other tips for dealing with vulvodynia. Tips include: avoiding irritants such as fragranced soaps and opting for a pH-balanced intimate product such as the femfresh Soothing Wash, which is gynecologically and dermatologically tested and is gentle on the intimate skin.

Here are some more tips from Dr Frankie:

• Wear loose cotton underwear and avoid tight clothing which could irritate the skin
• Avoid wearing underwear at night
• Apply soothing cool packs to the area to soothe discomfort
• Focus on reducing general life stress as this can affect the experience of vulvodynia
• Don’t avoid sex completely but instead communicate your concerns to your partner to make it comfortable for you. Some may
also, benefit from applying a topical local anaesthetic gel to the vulval area about 20 minutes before having sex
• Pelvic floor exercises can help relax the muscles around the vagina and may reduce tension and pain in the area

Anyone who thinks they may be experiencing vulvodynia should speak to their GP about how they may be feeling and even join support networks such as the Vulval Pain Society.

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