Vulvodynia Acupuncture London | Dr Maggie Ju

Personalised Acupuncture Support for Vulvodynia in London

Living with vulvodynia can be physically and emotionally challenging. Persistent vulval pain, burning, stinging or sensitivity can affect everyday activities, relationships, intimacy and quality of life.

If you are experiencing vulval discomfort, finding appropriate support and understanding your treatment options can be an important first step.

Dr Maggie Ju offers personalised acupuncture consultations in London, drawing on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and her background in medical science. Acupuncture may be considered as a complementary approach to support your overall wellbeing alongside appropriate medical assessment and treatment.

Every person’s experience of vulvodynia is different. Dr Maggie Ju takes time to understand your symptoms, health history and individual concerns.

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What Is Vulvodynia?

Vulvodynia is persistent pain or discomfort affecting the vulva, the external female genital area, when there is no clear identifiable cause. The pain can continue for long time and may occur without an obvious visible change to the skin.

Symptoms vary from person to person and can include:

• Burning or stinging sensations.

• Sharp, shooting or stabbing pain.

• Rawness, soreness or irritation.

• Tenderness or increased sensitivity to touch.

• Pain when sitting, cycling or wearing tight clothing.

• Discomfort during sexual activity or when inserting a tampon.

• Pain that is present all the time or occurs only when the area is touched.

Vulvodynia can affect one area or a wider part of the vulva. Some people experience pain without contact, while others experience pain when pressure or touch is applied.

The condition is not a sexually transmitted infection, and it is not simply a skin problem. It can have a significant impact on confidence, relationships, emotional wellbeing and daily life.

If you have vulval pain, it is important to seek an appropriate medical assessment. Other conditions, including infections and skin disorders, can cause similar symptoms and need different treatment.

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Understanding the Different Types of Vulvodynia

Vulvodynia is commonly described according to where the pain occurs and what triggers it.

Localised Vulvodynia

Pain is concentrated in a particular area of the vulva. For example, some people experience pain around the vaginal entrance, known as the vestibule.

Generalised Vulvodynia

Pain affects a wider area of the vulva and may be present without direct contact or pressure.

Provoked Vulvodynia

Pain is triggered by touch or pressure. This may include sexual intercourse, inserting a tampon, wearing tight clothing or sitting for prolonged periods.

Spontaneous Vulvodynia

Pain occurs without an obvious trigger and may be present even when the area is not being touched.

Some people experience a combination of these patterns. Understanding your symptoms and receiving an appropriate diagnosis can help guide your care.

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Vulvodynia and Emotional Wellbeing

Persistent vulval pain can affect much more than physical comfort. It may influence relationships, intimacy, confidence, sleep and emotional wellbeing.

Some people feel frustrated because their symptoms are not always visible or easily understood by others. Others may feel anxious about activities that could trigger discomfort.

It is important to remember that your pain deserves to be taken seriously. Vulvodynia is a recognised pain condition, and you do not need to manage it alone.

Alongside appropriate medical care, some people find it helpful to explore supportive approaches to relaxation and general wellbeing. Acupuncture may form part of an individual complementary care plan.

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Meet Dr Maggie Ju

Dr Maggie Ju has a background in Western medical science and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her academic and clinical experience informs her individual approach to acupuncture.

Her background includes:

• Medical education in Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Beijing.

• A PhD in Physiology from the University of Leeds.

• Postdoctoral research experience at St George's Hospital, London.

• More than 15 years of acupuncture experience of treating vulvodynia.

• Previous clinical experience in Harley Street and Kensington.

Dr Maggie Ju aims to provide a thoughtful and personalised treatment experience, taking time to understand each person's concerns.

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Vulvodynia treatment with acupuncture
Recent studies have shown that acupuncture may help in the treatment of vulvodynia.

In 1999, Powell and Wojnarowska published a paper in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine on the effectiveness of acupuncture for vulvodynia. They selected 12 patients between the ages of 18 and 68, all of whom had vulval pain and burning without other abnormalities on examination. The patients had experienced severe distress and impairment of sexual function, and many had tried suggested treatments without success. The patients were offered weekly acupuncture for ten weeks, and the results were promising. Two patients declared themselves cured, three believed their symptoms had improved and wished to continue acupuncture, four felt slightly better and judged acupuncture more effective than any other treatment, and three noted no effect at all. No obvious side effects were reported.

A study from Sweden investigated the effect of acupuncture on vulva vestibulitis. After three months of acupuncture treatment, the patients' quality of life improved significantly. More recently, Curran et al. used acupuncture to treat provoked vestibulodynia, another genital pain condition. In this study, 80 patients participated, and after 10 treatments, there were significant decreases in pain with manual genital stimulation and helplessness. There were also strong effects for improved ability to have intercourse and sexual desire. Qualitative analyses were overall more positive and showed an improvement in perceived sexual health, reduced pain, and improved mental well-being in the majority of participants.

A new study from the Department of Biobehavioral Health Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, has shown that acupuncture significantly reduces vulval pain in women with vulvodynia. The study involved 36 women with vulvodynia who were randomly assigned to either the acupuncture group or the wait-list control group. The acupuncture group received ten sessions of acupuncture. Reports of vulval pain and dyspareunia were significantly reduced, whereas changes in the aggregate FSFI scores suggest significant improvement in sexual functioning in those receiving acupuncture versus those who did not. The study concluded that this was the first randomized controlled pilot study to examine the use of acupuncture for the treatment of vulvodynia. The acupuncture protocol was feasible and appeared to reduce vulval pain and dyspareunia with an increase in overall sexual function for women with vulvodynia.

In conclusion, acupuncture has shown promise in the treatment of vulvodynia. Studies have shown that acupuncture can significantly reduce vulval pain and dyspareunia, improve sexual function, and enhance the quality of life in women with this condition. More research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind acupuncture's effectiveness in treating vulvodynia, but the evidence so far suggests that acupuncture is a safe and effective alternative for women who do not experience relief from traditional treatments.

Here are some examples of successful acupuncture treatments for vulval pain.

Case 1: A 34-year-old woman had been experiencing vulval pain for three years. The pain was worse during intercourse and she had very painful periods. She also experienced tightness in her thigh and back. Despite being treated with antidepressants and physiotherapy, her pain did not improve. However, she decided to try acupuncture and underwent eight treatments. After the eight sessions, her pain was significantly reduced and she was able to stop taking antidepressants.

Case 2: A 29-year-old woman had been experiencing vulval pain for two years. She felt a burning sensation when passing urine and experienced frequent urination. She found intercourse unbearable and was unable to use tampons. She also had lower back pain and painful periods. Despite being treated with various medications, she found no relief. After hearing that acupuncture could help her condition, she decided to try it. She underwent treatments for three months and her pain completely disappeared. She experienced no pain during urination or intercourse.

Case 3: A 43-year-old woman had been experiencing severe vulval pain for a year. She also experienced pain during intercourse and painful periods. She had irregular periods and experienced frequent urination and urgency. Despite being treated with antidepressants and local injections of steroids, her pain did not improve. She decided to try acupuncture and underwent five treatments. Her pain was lessened after these treatments, and after another ten sessions, her pain completely disappeared.

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat various ailments. Acupuncture can help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and promote relaxation.

In the cases mentioned above, acupuncture proved to be a successful treatment option for vulval pain that had not responded to conventional treatments.

Acupuncture has proven to be an effective treatment option for vulval pain that has not responded to other treatments. Patients with vulval pain may consider acupuncture as a non-invasive alternative to conventional treatments.

References

https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/vulvodynia/conditioninfo/Pages/treatments.aspx

Powell and Wojnarowska J R Soc Med (1999) 92:579-81

Curran S et al J Sex Med (2010) 7:981-95

Danielsson L et al Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand (2001) 80:437-41

http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/conditions/vulvodynia/

Schlaeger JM et al J Sex Med (2015) 12: 1019-27