While most cases of genital pain are mild and go away within a few days (or even hours), in some cases, it is cause for concern and should be evaluated by a pain management specialist. Genital pain may be serious if:

• Pain is severe
• Pain lasts for longer than two weeks
• Pain interferes with day-to-day life
• Pain causes sleeping problems
• At-home treatments fail to provide relief

Many causes of genital pain do not involve injury or physical trauma; causes that can affect both males and females include:

• Anal fissure
• Bladder mucosal inflammation
• Bladder pain syndrome
• Constipation
• Cystitis
• Dyspareunia
• Dysuria
• Epidermal cyst
• Epiploic appendagitis
• Genital warts
• Hematoma
• Hematometra
• Hematosalpinx
• Hematuria
• Herpes
• Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome
• Kidney stone
• Levator ani syndrome
• Pelvic congestion syndrome
• Pelvic floor muscle spasm
• Polyuria
• Proctalgia fugax
• Rectal prolapse
• Sebaceous cyst
• Sexual intercourse
• Strangury
• Urinary frequency
• Urinary incontinence
• Urinary tract infection
• Urinary retention

Causes unique to females include:

• Adenomyosis
• Dysmenorrhoea
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Endometrial polyp
• Endometriosis
• Endometriosis of ovary
• Folliculitis
• Female genital prolapse
• Follicular cyst of ovary
• Labor
• Miscarriage
• Imperforate hymen
• Intraepithelial neoplasia
• Mittelschmerz
• Ovarian apoplexy
• Ovarian cyst
• Ovarian torsion
• Pelvic congestion syndrome
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Pregnancy
• Sjögren syndrome
• Uterine prolapse
• Vaginal dryness
• Vaginismus
• Vesicouterine pouch
• Vulvodynia
• Vaginal bleeding
• Vulvar vestibulitis

Causes unique to males include:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Chronic prostatitis
• Epididymitis
• Spermatocele
• Hematocele
• Inguinal hernia
• Epididymal-orchitis
• Fournier’s gangrene
• Post-vasectomy pain syndrome
• Scrotal cellulitis
• Impotence
• Urolithiasis
• Varicocele

Treatments that can relieve genital pain depend on the cause of the pain, its severity, chronicity (duration), as well as factors unique to the patient receiving the treatment, including individual physiology, metabolism, and physical response to the treatment. In mild or minor cases of genital pain, at-home treatments are typically first used and often provide relief. These include:

• Proper Hygiene: Proper hygiene is the best practice one can implement to prevent genital pain; improper self-care can result in bacterial overgrowth, and if left to proliferate, can lead to an infection.
• Over-The-Counter Medications: OTC medications are typically the first line of treatment for most conditions; they are available at pharmacies, supermarkets, and drug stores. If OTC medications do not provide relief, other treatments are available, including prescriptions and therapies.
• STI Prevention: Taking the necessary steps to prevent sexually transmitted infections is another thing people can do to prevent certain types of genital pain caused by viral and bacterial infections.

If genital pain worsens or persists, seek medical help from a doctor right away; they may recommend the following:

• Antibiotics: If genital pain is caused by a bacterial infection, like a urinary tract infection, gonorrhea or chlamydia, a doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics; these should be taken in full, even if symptoms abate before the prescription is finished.
• Other medication: Various topical and oral medications can help with genital pain; a doctor might prescribe antivirals for a viral infection.
• Referral to a specialist: If a doctor suspects that the cause of genital pain is serious or syndromic, they may provide a referral to a specialist who diagnoses and treats these types of conditions, such as a pain management specialist.
• Ganglion Impar Block: A Ganglion Impar Block is an injection of pain medication used to treat pelvic, genital, perineal (the area between the anus and scrotum or vulva), and anal pain. It is a type of sympathetic block that prevents nerve pain signals from reaching the brain.
 
If you are experiencing genital pain, come to Ramos Center for professional care. Call us today to book an appointment with our genital pain treatment specialist; we have Florida locations to better serve you: in Bradenton; Dunedin; Englewood; Port Charlotte; Sarasota; and Venice. We look forward to serving you! We serve patients from Bradenton FL, Sarasota FL, Palmetto FL, St. Petersburg FL, Laurel FL, Venice FL, Englewood FL, Cortez FL, Memphis FL, Port Charlotte FL, and Dunedin FL.