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Contact: Phyllis Mate
(301) 299-0775
Fax: (301) 299-3999
HBO's "Sex and the City" Portrays a Serious Women's
Health Condition With Inaccuracy
The Reality of Vulvodynia - Millions Suffer
(June 4, 2001) - In the season premiere of HBO's Sex and the City
which aired this past Sunday, Charlotte received a diagnosis of
vulvodynia from her gynecologist after reporting symptoms of vaginal
burning, itching and stinging. She asks her doctor if it is serious
and is told, "No. It's mostly just uncomfortable." For
many women in pain, this can't be farther from the truth. Even before
the season premiere of Sex and the City aired, thousands of women
who saw the preview on Oprah were criticizing the show for its inaccurate
portrayal.
In reality, vulvodynia is a VERY SERIOUS chronic pain condition
affecting millions of women in the United States alone. Women with
vulvodynia experience vulvar pain resulting in painful sexual intercourse,
or an altogether inability to engage in sexual relations. Many women
lose the ability to exercise or to sit for long periods of time
and in the worst cases, vulvodynia patients are bedridden with chronic
unrelenting pain.
"Sex and the City failed miserably at portraying the serious
and complicated nature of this condition, particularly when the
show's gynecologist indicated that it's easy to treat," says
Phyllis Mate, Executive Director of the National Vulvodynia Association
(NVA), an organization dedicated to educating patients and physicians
about vulvar pain, and funding research on the disorder.
Charlotte is prescribed a low dose antidepressant and is told "it
should get it under control," as if it were the cure. The truth
is the causes of vulvodynia are still unclear and although there
are treatments that can provide some pain relief, there is no known
cure. Because vulvodynia symptoms are similar to those of common
vaginitis, the average gynecologist often diagnoses it incorrectly,
and when the condition does not resolve, may even dismiss the problem
as psychological. Women typically visit as many as seven doctors
before obtaining an accurate diagnosis.
Perhaps the only accuracy Sex and the City achieves is when Charlotte's
friends answer, "Vulvo-what-ia?" when she reveals her
diagnosis. This reaction is all too common among the general public
and even the medical community. Although few people are aware of
the condition, its strong existence is demanding attention. The
National Institutes of Health recently awarded over five million
dollars in federal research funding to vulvodynia research studies
for the first time in history. And although inaccurate, the portrayal
of the condition on one of the most popular television shows has,
in the very least, brought it to the masses.
"We are not certain if Charlotte will continue to struggle
with vulvodynia throughout the season," says Mate, who thinks
that's how the story should be carried out. "But we will continue
our work to educate the medical community and public, and give direction
and hope to the 'real women' who are suffering."
About the NVA
The National Vulvodynia Association (NVA), a non-profit organization
established in 1994, began as a small local support group. Today,
more than 4,000 patients and health care practitioners throughout
the world belong to the organization. The NVA disseminates newsletters
written by medical experts, provides support services and physician
referrals, and encourages research on the disorder. Its medical
advisory board is comprised of clinicians and scientists from diverse
medical specialties, including gynecology, dermatology, pain management
and physical therapy. For additional information, visit the NVA's
website at www.nva.org
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