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Chronic Clitoral Pain and Clitorodynia
Book chapter

Chronic Clitoral Pain and Clitorodynia

Stephanie M Radke and Colleen K Stockdale
Female Sexual Pain Disorders, pp.375-380
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
08/20/2020
DOI: 10.1002/9781119482598.ch41

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Abstract

Chronic clitoral pain may be categorized as clitorodynia, defined as unexplained clitoral pain or burning for more than three months, or secondary clitoral pain, related for example to pudendal nerve injury, impingement of the S2–S4 nerve roots, periclitoral mass or infection, clitoral adhesion, vulvar dermatoses, or female genital cutting. This chapter explores the etiologies and treatment of isolated clitoral pain that is distinct from vulvodynia or other chronic genital pain syndromes, and also not secondary to female genital cutting. The dorsal nerve of the clitoris (DNC), a branch of the pudendal nerve, is the primary sensory nerve of the clitoris. The DNC enters the vulva inferior to the inferior pubic ramus and runs along the superior/posterior border of the clitoral crus. Clitoral pain symptoms are underreported and underrecognized by providers as well as women and their significant others.
chronic clitoral pain chronic genital pain syndromes clitorodynia dorsal nerve of clitoris secondary clitoral pain vulvodynia

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