Welcome to the Vulval Pain Society, a UK registered charity supporting vulval pain sufferers.

Our aims are:

  • To promote and protect the physical and mental health of sufferers of vulval pain through the provision of support, education and practical advice

  • To advance the education of the general public in all areas relating to vulval pain

We offer advice and information on all vulval pain matters. You can read detailed information about vulvodynia, vestibulodynia (previously known as vulval vestibulitis), lichen sclerosus, and other vulval pain conditions. We also have information on sex and vulval pain, pregnancy and vulval pain, and other general good advice.

Find out more about us.

UPDATE: West Midlands Vulval Pain Support Group

We're very pleased to announce that the West Midlands Vulval Pain Support Group is now well under way. The group held its first meeting in Birmingham, and has decided to hold subsequent meetings there as well. The West Midlands Vulval Pain Support Group has been set up to provide confidential support and advice for women in the West Midlands suffering from vulval pain conditions such as vulvodynia and vestibulodynia.

Fon further details about the group, download the West Midlands Vulval Pain Support Group poster from this website. Alternatively, you can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. who runs the group.

UPDATE: Southampton University vulvodynia study

The Southampton University study exploring the experience of vulval pain for UK women and their partners is now closed to new participants.

The results of the study are currently being written up, and a summary of the findings will be posted here as soon as this becomes available - so do watch this space.

UPDATE: Liverpool University vulval pain study

We are pleased to be able to report that this study, 'Vulval pain: the journey to diagnosis', which explores women's psychological journey from first symptoms of vulval pain to a formal diagnosis, has had sufficient participant response for analysis and is therefore now closed. Further news and updates on the work will be posted here and on our Older studies page once these are available.

UPDATE: Coventry University unprovoked vulvodynia study

Please note that this online study, which examines UK patients' experiences of accessing treatment for unprovoked vulvodynia, has finished data collection and analysis and is therefore now closed. We will provide details of the results of the study here and on our Older studies page as soon as these are available. 

Talking helps skin

Consultants insist it really works but can talking about your emotions clear up bad skin? This article appeared in the Daily Mail on 23 January 2012, highlighting a new approach to skin conditions.

Painful Sex vs 'Normal' Sex: The Differences Explained With Food

Women4Real have recently released a short video which was made to raise awareness of vulvodynia and painful sex. The video has been made independently of the Vulval Pain Society (VPS) by Sally Turner and Sabine Tyrvainen, who run Women4Real.

You can view Women4Real's film on YouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbaNPGIamQ

Read more: Painful Sex vs 'Normal' Sex: The Differences Explained With Food