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Vulvodynia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treated With an Elimination Diet: A Case Report
Jessica Drummond1, Deborah Ford1, Stephanie Daniel1
1; ; and ; are doctoral students in clinical nutrition at Maryland University of Integrative Health in Laurel, Maryland. is a family medicine physician specializing in functional medicine in San Francisco, California.
Background:
A 28-y-old athletic woman was diagnosed with vulvodynia and long-term irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and was treated successfully with an elimination diet.
Case/Intervention:
In the course of 6 mo of nutrition therapy utilizing an elimination diet, specific foods triggering abdominal bloating and pain, and vulvovaginal pain were identified. In the course of treatment, the nutrition and supplement program instituted for this patient allowed her to return to her prior functional level without pain (including sexual activity) and resolution of her IBS. She has remained symptom free for at least 6 mo posttreatment.
Conclusion:
This case demonstrates the potential usefulness of incorporating a customized nutritional approach to determine proinflammatory foods in patients with chronic vulvodynia and overlapping IBS. Long-term pain resolution and healthy sexual functioning in this case was supported by food elimination and nutritional supplementation.
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