Q-Tip Test?

Hey everyone. I went to the doctor on Monday. I discussed my issues with him and he gave me a Q-tip test. He said I don't have vulvodynia or vulvar vestibules because there isn't any pain in a localized area. I also don't feel that uncomfortable when I have physical examinations. There is just a generalized pain that stays at the same level throughout the day and gets worse with sex. This makes no sense! Does anyone know what this is? Do you have to have a positive result on a Q-tip test to have vulvodynia? Thanks!

I know when I had v I would react horribly to a qtip test it would hurt so bad. Maybe yours is more vaginismus or pfd than vulvodynia but omg qtips used to hurt like crazy!

You dont have to have a positive q-tip test to have vulvodynia. A positive test is more common in women who have a type of V called vulvar vestibulitis. Their pain is localized to the vestibule(entrance to the vagina) . Pain with vestibulitis occurs upon penetration or inserting a tampon or speculum or contact with tight clothing or certain activities.. They have the most success with the surgery. Another type of V is Dyesthetic Vulvodynia in which a woman feels burning, rawness, irritaiton, itching anywhere on the vulva. Some have constant pain all the time and sometimes there are brief periods of relief. Some have pain with sex or exams and some dont. You can also have both types of V which I do. I have burning, swelling, all the time. Sometimes I feel a stinging or a poking near the clitoris or labia. Sex is very painful upon entry but then subsides. The pain is worse (THE absolute worse for me) the day after and for several days. Once in a while I will feel almost normal for a few hours but it always returns. For this reason I stopped having intercourse. I figure my body is trying to tell me something if the pain is that bad. I feel I need to give myself time to heal before trying again. There are several good books out there that explain Vulvodynia. One is 'The Vulvodynia Survival Guide" by Howard Glazer. Another is "The V Book" by Elizabeth Stewart and "Ending Female Pain" by Isa Herrera. I have read them all. The self help measures that have given me the most relief are Aveeno Colloidal Oatmeal baths, spraying myself off with cool water after urinating (using an irrigation bottle - like you get after delivery) and the stretching exercises. The most surprising thing that has helped is learning how to breathe using your diaphragm while stretching/exercising and taking the time to deep breathe many times throughout the day to relax. stress makes everything worse. I wish you well!

Hi Katie, unprovoked vulvodynia does not respond to a q tip test unless there's an element of provoked mixed in (often can be) so yes you could have unprovoked generalised vulvodynia, google it and see if it sounds like what you are experiencing.

Thanks for the replies! That's kind of what I was thinking. I don't think it's right to judge whether someone has vulvodynia or not from a Q-tip. For the pain my doctor is thinking of giving me Gabapentin. Have you guys ever tried that? My pain goes away when I take xanax so he was thinking gabapentin would be my best bet.

I used it as a topical it didn't work for me, I didn't want to deal with the side effects of a pill. But maybe orally it would work better?

I have read many articles on vulvodynia..........there are 2 kinds........one could be a q-tip test, however the other is not!! They are totally different.........
The 2nd kind is burning inside the vulva...........these doctors need to get informed!