Vulvodynia is an increasingly prevalent condition for women without a known cause. The International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD) defines vulvodynia as chronic vulvar pain or discomfort characterized by burning, stinging, irritation or rawness when there is otherwise no infection or disease to cause these symptoms. The pain can be severe enough to interfere with intercourse or make sitting very uncomfortable. Although some women experience vulvodynia for years, others are lucky enough to find it suddenly disappears. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston estimate that more than 14 million women may suffer during their lifetime. As with other nonspecific chronic pain diagnoses, pinpointing the right treatment can be a matter of trial and error. But we have many options including topical anesthetics, aerobic exercise, biofeedback and other methods of inducing relaxation. For more information log onto the website of the National Vulvodynia Association.