How may vulvodynia affect my personal relationships?
For many women, vulvodynia may result in sexual activity being very uncomfortable and even painful. Because of this, vulvodynia may also cause emotional stress for women whose intimate partners may not fully understand the effects of this condition. Women should be encouraged to discuss vulvodynia openly and honestly with their partner and should not feel obligated to engage in sexual activity if it is painful. More information on this issue is available from our partners, including the American College of Nurse-Midwives (www.acnm. org), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (www.acog.org), the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (www.issvd.org), and the National Vulvodynia Association (www. nva.org).
