Introduction

Vulvodynia is a condition characterized by discomfort in the vulva, vagina, or genital area that lasts three or more months (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). Symptoms include vaginal itchiness, swelling, pain, redness, and severe discomfort. Effects of this condition on women include pain, swelling, and discomfort when doing daily activities, sitting, and especially having intercourse. Vulvodynia has been diagnosed most commonly in sexually active women, especially between the ages of 20 and 60 (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). Despite how an estimated 16% of women in the United States alone are affected by this condition at some point in their lives, it remains quite underresearched (National Vulvodinia Association, 2016). This disruption of daily life that affects such a large part of the female population has yet to be given pinpoint causes, and therefore continues to negatively affect many women. Due to biases towards women in healthcare, especially regarding reporting painful symptoms, many often go either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed (Vieira-Baptista et al, 2018). Failure to properly diagnose conditions and diseases leads to unnecessary expenditures such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) testing and treatments costing money for women affected (Vieira-Baptista et al, 2018). The lack of understanding there is in terms of what causes vulvodynia indirectly results in many not knowing how to avoid it, leaving many exposed. So far, the suspected main causes are quite scattered and not well known; one particular one that is suspected is PFAS, also known as Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, are manufactured chemicals, many of which are harmful, that remain in the body for extended periods of time and often build up in humans, animals, and the environment (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2024).

While condoms are a very commonly used contraceptive, research suggests that some (as well as some lubricants) contain harmful forever chemicals (Environmental Health News, 2024). Due to the high prevalence of latex allergies, symptoms often related to vulvodynia, such as swelling, itchiness, and redness, may be triggered during sex (Osborn, 2018). The goal for this paper is to attempt to either find or rule out a connection between harmful chemicals in condoms and latex and their potential connection to vulvodynia and triggering its symptoms. Through this study, measures will hopefully be taken in the future to ban these harmful chemicals. A better understanding of the causes and risk of exposure to vulvodynia can help women in the future avoid getting the condition.

Methods

While quite understudied, certain sources of data give relatively similar estimates on the affected demographics for vulvodynia in the United States, as well as consistent symptoms of what patients with vulvodynia. Still, the primary cause and frequency are quite disputed due to a lack of research experience. Sources used were limited to being published by reputable organizations that were medically reviewed or peer-reviewed relevant literature. Furthermore, only sources published within the past 15 years were considered to ensure proposed symptoms were more legitimate. Studies where conflict of interest or funding from external sales companies were excluded. Conclusions, associations, and correlations drawn were all conclusive and/or statistically significant. In these studies, I analyzed specific symptoms that were consistent in major studies as well as studies that included sexual activity information. Similarly, when looking at information for PFAS keywords, such as “endocrine” and “female,” were used to identify sources specific to women’s health. For peer-reviewed articles, the aforementioned keywords were used to search for research using PubMed and Google Scholar. Some recent literature has indicated that vulvodynia is more prevalent among sexually active women (Reed et al, 2018). Thus, studies regarding the potential endocrine and hormone-disrupting chemical compounds present in condoms and lubricants, items used in sexually active populations, were included in the review. In this way, known hazards and irritants from PFAS and their effects were searched for, and the effects were looked into. This information will be used in the study to compare major consistencies found across symptoms and triggers in vulvodynia and hazardous chemicals found in certain condoms and lubricants. The overall objective is to provide insight into a potential correlation between the subject matters.

Vulvodynia

Vulvodynia, a condition characterized by pain in the vulva for at least three months, is found in women of various ages and ethnicities (Baptiste et al, 2018). The condition is more commonly found in sexually active women regardless of age (Reed et al, 2011). There are two major types of vulvodynia: Localized, in which pain originates from a specific area such as the clitoris, and Generalized, in which the pain is felt in multiple places or the entire vulva at once (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). Diagnosis includes methods, including ruling out other options that could cause pain, like yeast infections or STDs, pressure-point testing to find any areas of localized pain, or pelvic exams (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). Once a diagnosis has been given, common methods of treatment revolve around pain reduction, such as topical anaesthetics and nerve blockers, or antidepressants and therapy to deal with the emotional impact of the painful condition, which affects a rough estimate of 16% of women in the United States (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). While these mitigate the effects of the vulvodynia, they will not cure it. Preventative measures are unable to be taken since the direct cause(s) of vulvodynia are still unknown. Between the limited treatment and lack of preventative measures, those affected are made to deal with having to manage chronic pain at their emotional and financial expense. While there is still no certain cause for the condition, one suspected in the literature is exposure to hazardous chemicals. According to Reed et al (2019), women with vulvodynia and the intermittent symptoms, according to reports, were more than twice as likely to be exposed to an array of potentially harmful chemicals associated with chronic pain and hormone disruption, despite the study controlling for age, ethnicity, and SES. This indicates that exposure to harmful chemicals may be positively associated with vulvodynia cases.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

PFAS is a term that refers to man-made chemicals that are present in many consumer products. These chemicals are concerningingly not easily biodegradable, and are capable of accumulating in a human faster than they can be broken down (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2025). Often found in critical places such as drinking water, food packaging, household products, and personal care items, the risk of exposure is high in human populations, and most Americans have been exposed at one point or another (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2025). These PFAS can accumulate in the body much more quickly when exposure is concentrated, especially over a short period of time (Li et al 2023). With this high exposure, it is suspected that PFAS can lead to many issues, such as reproductive health and hormonal interference (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2025). On top of this, PFAS have been associated with endocrine disruption in particular (Li et al, 2023). One such source of exposure to PFAS was found to be in some condoms and lubricants (Environmental Health News 2024).

Discussion

With the knowledge that vulvodynia is found more often in sexually active women, there is surprisingly little research regarding any possible causes that could potentially be found causing the condition via sex. Considering items such as condoms and lubricant, often used during sex, have been found to contain PFAS, as mentioned earlier by Environmental Health News (2024), this could explain why the conditions being potentially brought on are focused in the vaginal area. Meanwhile, PFAS are thought to cause endocrine disruption and hormonal interference (Li et al, 2023). According to Moustakli et al. (2025), endocrine disruption is a potential contender for negative disruption in the female genital tract. Because of this, these seemingly hazardous chemicals may very well be correlated to an array of issues regarding the female genital tract for long periods of time, matching up with the chronic nature of vulvodynia. It is feasible that the sexual mode of exposure to PFAS may be associated with vulvodynia and/ or triggering its symptoms, which should be further studied in the future to regulate the usage of these harsh chemicals, especially concentrated in sensitive areas.

Conclusion

While there is a possibility that PFAS found in condoms may be either causing or triggering vulvodynia due to a lack of research, it is challenging to draw a firm conclusion on the two subject matters’ relation. At the very least, it is important to rule out the possibility in order to create a smaller, more specific list of the true causes of vulvodynia. To do so in the future, research regarding what types of condoms and lubricants women are using during sex and the frequency of vulvodynia found in those being researched should be conducted. To add, different brands and their level of contamination with suspected harmful chemicals, as well as those that don’t contain PFAS at all, should be explored for differences in their effect on female genital health. The purpose of this would be to be able to draw conclusive evidence as to whether or not these materials are safe for usage and could even potentially give a precise cause of these conditions that cause chronic pain for many women.