Caroline F. Pukall, Ph.D. CPsych, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Dr. Pukall explains how a woman with vulvodynia can advocate for herself in her doctor's office.

Dr. Caroline F. Pukall, Assistant Professor at Department of Psychology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada explains vulvodynia.

Additional Vulvodynia Resources Provided By the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Online Resources

Office of Research on Women’s Health Science Series Fact Sheet: Vulvodynia

Office of Research on Women’s Health Science Series Fact Sheet: Vulvodynia [In Spanish]

Vulvodynia Awareness Campaign

Vulvodynia, also referred to as “the pain down there” or also as “feminine pain,” is chronic discomfort or pain of the vulva, which is the area around the outside of the vagina. Researchers estimate that as many as 18 percent of women will experience symptoms consistent with vulvodynia.