A very 'private' vulval pain

Did you know that research shows around 16% of women have vulval pain at some point in their lives? Some of you may be aware that vulval conditions can include vulvodynia, vestibulodynia, lichen sclerosis, lichen planus… In 2003 I became one of the 16%.

It is a very lonely life when no-one really understands the pain you are in, why you don't sit for long, why you can't travel very far and gradually you stop going out altogether. I think that only another woman with a vulval disorder can truly appreciate that! So, fed up with feeling isolated, women in Bristol and South West came together for mutual support and from this beginning, the Vulval Health Foundation was born.

Our main aim is to support women with any vulval condition with a goal to eventually creating a charitable trust akin to the Breast Cancer campaign. This work is made very difficult by barriers of cultural taboos and lack of media coverage.

We support women of all ages races and sexuality, our members range from early 20's to 60 something and we welcome applications for membership throughout the UK. We provide workshops for women members, support meetings for members and their partners and also open meetings in which we invite guest speakers to give a talk on issues relating to these conditions. We are proud to say that Mr David Nunns - founder of the Vulval Pain Society, supports our work and is our medical advisor.

If any of this sounds familiar to you and you are interested in joining us, or know someone who might, please contact us and please do email the information to all your female friends, family and co-workers!

EDITED to add signature.