For many women, pain related to sex, pelvic exams, or everyday activities like using a tampon can feel deeply isolating. When this pain becomes chronic, it can impact self-esteem, relationships, and sexual wellbeing in profound ways. Yet, for women of color, these experiences are often met with silence, misunderstanding, or dismissal within the healthcare system.
A recent study published in Social Sciences (2024) shines light on this often overlooked topic. The research explored how women of color describe chronic vulvovaginal pain (CVVP) and how the words they use can affect their ability to get the care they need. The findings highlight how culture, identity, and language shape the way pain is communicated and how these differences can lead to gaps in diagnosis and treatment.
How Women of Color Describe Pelvic and Vulvovaginal Pain
The study included nearly 500 women of color between 18 and 55, representing Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian, and Native American identities. Participants were asked to describe their pain in different contexts, such as during sex, pelvic exams, menstruation, or while sitting or walking.
What emerged was a striking diversity of language. There was no single word or phrase used consistently across groups. Some described their pain as “throbbing,” others as “aching,” “sharp,” or “tiring.” The term “burning,” which doctors often associate with vulvodynia, was used less frequently especially among Black and Latinx women.
This detail matters because many medical diagnostic tools rely on certain “expected” words. When patients describe their pain differently, their symptoms might not fit the checklist, which can lead to delays in diagnosis or misinterpretation of pain.
Communication Gaps and Their Impact on Diagnosis
About one-third of participants said they used different language when describing pain to doctors than they did when speaking with family or friends. Some softened or changed their wording out of fear of being dismissed or misunderstood. Others adapted their language to sound more “medical,” believing that this would help them be taken seriously.
However, those who changed their language were more likely to have seen multiple healthcare providers before receiving a diagnosis. This highlights a painful truth: when women of color adjust their communication to fit a system not designed for them, it can sometimes make care harder to access.
What This Means for Sexual Health and Therapy
Chronic vulvovaginal pain is not just a physical issue, it often carries emotional and relational layers too. Many people who experience pelvic or genital pain also struggle with feelings of shame, anxiety, or disconnection from their bodies. This is where therapy can play a powerful role.
In sex therapy, we explore the emotional impact of pain while rebuilding a sense of safety and connection with the body. For women of color, it can also mean unpacking how cultural expectations, racism, and medical mistrust shape how they talk about pain and pleasure.
Therapy creates a space where clients don’t have to “get the language right” to be believed. It’s a place to describe what the pain feels like in their own words without fear of judgment or dismissal.
Listening, Believing, and Expanding the Language of Care
This study offers a clear message: there is no single right way to talk about pain. When providers and therapists make space for a range of experiences and expressions, it helps create more inclusive, effective care.
If you are navigating pelvic pain, sexual discomfort, or ongoing vulvovaginal pain, know that you are not alone. At Cair Sex Therapy, I offer trauma-informed, sex-positive therapy that centers your lived experiences, identity, and values. Healing begins with being heard, believed, and supported exactly as you are.
References
Adams, J. M., Gesselman, A. N., & Bennett-Brown, K. A. (2024). Centering women of color: Chronic vulvovaginal pain (CVVP) communication. Social Sciences, 13(5), 265. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13050265
