Acupuncture and Vulvodynia by Acupuncturist Maryann Child How can acupuncture work for you? What researchers are finding out about acupunture treatments for VV patients -- information on research findings regarding surgery and VV and more...

Information on Relaxation and Pain Management:

Relaxation techniques have been used with some success to alleviate dysmenorrhea in some young women. According to one preliminary study, the symptoms of menstrual cramps, nausea, irritability, and poor concentration greatly improved after 20-minute relaxation sessions twice per week.
(Reiki is a holistic therapy that is used to promote relaxation.)

Research findings on Acupuncture:

Acupuncture may be a useful therapy in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. A preliminary trial reported that 86% of women treated with acupuncture for dysmenorrhea had complete cessation of pain for three consecutive menstrual periods. Other preliminary trials have demonstrated similar results. A controlled clinical trial reported 91% efficacy with acupuncture compared to 36.4% efficacy with sham acupuncture (using fake acupuncture points) and 18% efficacy in an untreated control group.36 A small trial compared a 30-minute TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) treatment to stimulate acupuncture points with a placebo pill for dysmenorrhea. There was a large placebo effect in this study, and analgesia over the next several hours was not significantly better in the treatment group compared to placebo. More controlled trials are needed to determine whether acupuncture is a useful treatment for dysmenorrhea.

Information on Calcium and Magnesium for pain management:

In theory, calcium may help prevent menstrual cramps by maintaining normal muscle tone. Muscles that are calcium-deficient tend to be hyperactive and therefore might be more likely to cramp. Calcium supplementation was reported to reduce pain during menses in one double-blind trial, though another such study found that it relieved only premenstrual cramping, not pain during menses. Some doctors recommend calcium supplementation for dysmenorrhea, suggesting 1,000 mg per day throughout the month and 250–500 mg Q4H for analgesia, during acute cramping (up to a maximum of 2,000 mg per day).

Like calcium, magnesium plays a role in controlling muscle tone and could be important in preventing menstrual cramps. Magnesium supplements have been reported in preliminary and double-blind European research to reduce symptoms of dysmenorrhea.1 In one of these double-blind trials, women took 360 mg per day of magnesium for three days beginning on the day before menses began.

Research Study Currently Being Conducted at Johns Hopkins

Research Study Being Conducted in conjunction with
Quantum- Veritas International University
and Maryann Child A.P.,D.P.M., C.H

The following is a list of things you should ask your doctor to check for if you have or think you have Vulvodynia:

• yeast culture, sensitivity to yeast, systemic or intestinal yeast, erythematous candidiasis? (yeast cells below the surface of the skin)
• bacterial vaginosis (gardnerella), trichomonas, syphilis, gonorhea, vaginal B-strep, cytolic vaginosis (or cytolytic vaginosis, also called "lactobacillosis" or "Doederlein cytolysis." - an overgrowth of the good bacteria)
• vaginal ph (which can show whether bacterial levels are normal)
• herpes (with a swab test or a blood titer) swab tests are unreliable; only a positive test is meaningful - a negative one only means the swab didn't pick up any virus at that time. Also, HSV frequently does not cause the classic blisters. Blood antibody tests are more accurate, especially those that differentiate between the types.)
• HPV (If the test is positive, DNA type the strain.)
• hormonal problems and imbalances
• nerve damage due to trauma
• pelvic muscle tension
• autoimmune diseases conditions giving the Anti-Nuclear Antibody (ANA) test (Elevated levels of ANAs can indicate that antibodies are attacking healthy tissue)

The following are personal stories from women who have tried alternative treatments.

Candace's Story Why I am trying Guaifenesin

MY Story Acupuncture, Herbs, and Conventional Medicine

The following are personal stories from husbands of Vulvodynia patients.

Frank's Story My Own Thoughts On Vulvodynia

If you have tried an alternative treatment that you feel has been successful or are a husband or partner of a Vulvodynia patient and want to share your experience with others please contact: lauren@vulvodyniasupport.com