Easing the pain of fibromyalgia and vulvodynia without side effects.

( EMAILWIRE.COM, June 13, 2007 ) San Angelo, TX -- Patient advocate and author Claudia Craig Marek, M. A. will be presenting 'Emu Oil in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia & Vulvodynia- during the Emu Oil Seminar for Medical Professionals on July 7th at the Holiday Inn Downtown at
the Park in Missoula, MT. The seminar is being held in conjunction with the 17th Annual American Emu Association National Convention. Marek is president of the Fibromyalgia Treatment Center, a non-profit foundation that raises money for Fibromyalgia Research. As medical assistant for R. Paul St. Amand, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology, UCLA, she has counseled fibromyalgia patients for over seven years. She is the co-author with Dr. St. Amand on the best seller: "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia." Her book, "The First Year--Fibromyalgia: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed (The First Year Series)" is on its sixth printing. ( Read more... )

Patient delusion -- or medical confusion?
ZOE CORMIER

When Anet Greenley got sick four years ago, what upset her the most wasn't the continual nosebleeds, the numbness in her limbs, or even the fact that her stool had turned green. What really bothered her was the fact that nobody would take her seriously.

"My doctors all told me I was stressed out, that it was all in my head, that I was having panic attacks that upset my stomach," says the 38-year-old Ottawa native. "Even some of my family told me it was in my head.'"( Read more... )

Vulvodynia can be simply classified as "pain in the vulvar region". This puzzling disorder effects women of all ages and manifests itself as a severe pain in a particular area of the vulvar vestibule. Common symptoms of Vulvodynia and Vulvar Vestibulitis include extreme pain or itching around the vulvar area which can also lead to dry skin and tearing of the region. Vulvodynia can make it near impossible to enjoy a healthy sex life, and for those in relationships it can be a trying time. Here are some tips for how to deal with Vulvodynia whilst maintaining a healthy relationship with your partner. ( Read more... )

Woman’s Support Network Announces First Survey Focusing on How “The Pain Women Won’t Talk About” Affects Relationships.

[ClickPress, Wed Jan 17 2007] An estimated 15 million women, of all ages, suffer from Vulvodynia (chronic vaginal/vulvar pain) at some point in their lives. Many are too embarrassed or ashamed to speak of it. But this condition has wrecked marriages and destroyed self-esteem.

Symptoms such as burning, stinging, or stabbing pain in the genital area often prevent women from having, or enjoying, sex. But both partners suffer from the effects of this disorder, which causes confusion, guilt, frustration, and a diminished quality of life. ( Read more... )

Vulvodynia or vulvar pain syndrome is a multifactoral clinical syndrome of vulvar pain, sexual dysfunction, and psychological distress. Recognizing the four specific subtypes of vulvodynia is important in the management approach. The most common four subtypes are vulvar vestibulitis syndrome, cyclic vulvovaginitis, dysesthetic vulvodynia, and vulvar dermatoses. Simple clinical guidelines can be developed to improve the evaluation and treatment of these often long-suffering patients.

Vulvodynia is different from itching or vulvar pruritus. Vulvodynia actually precludes itching because the burning and pain cause an intolerance to scratching. Over the years, the terminology used to describe vulvodynia has varied. The term vulvodynia has now been recommended by the International Society for the Study of Vulvar Disease (ISSVD) to describe any vulvar pain, regardless of etiology. ( Read more... )

UroToday.com- The lack of a generalized case definition of IC in women is apparent when looking at the literature. Bogart and colleagues report on results of a literature review by the Rand Corporation done in preparation for a major population prevalence study of the syndrome. The overlap in symptoms between IC and other conditions proved to be very challenging. ( Read more... )

SANTA FE, N.M. -- Psychological disturbances probably do not contribute to the development or maintenance of vulvodynia, according to results of a cross-sectional study.

Psychological factors such as sexual and physical abuse, depression, and marital difficulties have been postulated to play a role in the onset and maintenance of vulvodynia for many years. But there have been few controlled studies that have examined the issue, Dr. Barbara D. Reed noted at the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease World Congress. ( Read more... )

It can keep you from having sex, wearing jeans, even riding a bicycle -- and 16 percent of all women will have it at some point in their lives. So why is there no cure for vulvodynia? ( Read more... )

HYPNOSIS can help cure women of sex phobias like fear of sperm, a sexual health congress has been told.

Melbourne psychologist Dr Janet Hall told the gathering of sex therapists that she had successfully freed several women from their sexual problems by hypnotising them. ( Read more... )