| VULVODYNIA SUPPORT NETWORK WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND |
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| Physiotherapy We want these pages to document the experiences of women with vulvodynia If you would like to submit some writing to this page or have any questions regarding the treatments discussed, please email us. Please note that the information provided has not been verified by a doctor so always check it out first! |
| Our Mission: To assist New Zealand women in accessing resources and information to help them to find the support theyneed to deal with and overcome vulvar pain. |
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| Studies on women with vulvodynia have demonstrated that vulvodynia sufferers often have much tenser pelvic floor muscles that other women. This is the opposite problem to the one which women often suffer after childbirth of weak pelvic floor muscles. To address this tenseness, you can get treatment from a physiotherapist. A number of women with vulvodynia have used the women's physio at Wellington Hospital. Her contact details are: Ann O'Leary Physiotherapy Service Level E, Grace Neil Block Wellington Hospital Ph. 04 385 5893 If anyone knows physios in other centres that offer this, please contact us. Emma, age 23 A couple of years ago I went to Ann O'Leary at Wellington hospital. I was extremely nervous but she was very relaxed and caring. I thought it would be quite painful given how inflamed I was. However the device is very small and didn't hurt at all. Rose, age 32 I tried the device at the women's hospital that is supposed to zap the muscles, used mainly to help women with incontinence problems after giving birth. There's a thing they insert which you clench your pubococcygeal muscles around, and they can see how strong you are, and whether you can maintain a grip, and relax properly. I was rather weak I think (this is a few years ago) and had trouble sustaining it. So the treatment is several visits (6-10?) to be zapped by a dildo-like thing you have inside you, which gives a electric current every minute or so. It's supposed to calm down the tension. I think it may have helped, but I wasn't having much sex at the time, not being in a steady relationship. I think it's worth a try, it always feels good to be doing something pro-active. It does feel a bit uncomfortable, but it isn't actually painful, just a bit weird. Kate, age 43 I went to a physio at Wellington Womens Hospital. She had a machine which is meant to help the pelvic floor muscles relax. I lay on a bed, she inserted a small probe just inside my vagina, then she turned on a machine which caused a funny sensation in my vagina, it didn’t hurt It was left in for about 20 mins, taken out and that was it. I had this done about 8 times, it seemed to help. |