Support
It is important to be able to talk with other women about the physical symptoms of vulvodynia and related emotional issues. Many women find that speaking to others who have vulvodynia is both a good source of information and the best way to overcome the emotional isolation that may result from having this disorder. The NVA has identified the below support groups and email contacts for those who choose this option. Please note some of the below listed groups may be working to build a support group and, therefore, may not always be actively meeting. The groups may also take breaks from meeting on occasion, and some groups may also meet more often than others.
Keep in mind that your support contact is a volunteer and has other women she keeps in touch with. It can take up to one week for her to contact you. Please don’t email or call her repeatedly. NVA considers a reasonable amount of contact to be once or twice a week, primarily by email. Phone calls are limited to 30 minutes. Please be considerate of your support person’s time. A support contact has the right to terminate a relationship if she feels that an individual is overly demanding or abusive. If you need any assistance connecting with one of the below listed support group leaders or email contacts, please e-mail Michelle Living.
Support Contacts and Support Group Meetings
Mesa/Kalispell (Arizona and Montana)
- Contact:
- Barb ; barbhicksnva10@gmail.com
- Upcoming Meetings:
No meetings. Email support.
- Location:
Kalispell, Montana and Mesa, Arizona
(California)
- Contact:
- Cheryl ; jmorris4550-nva@yahoo.com
- Upcoming Meetings:
No meetings. Email and phone support. Special interest in post-menopausal issues and lichen sclerosus.
- Location:
California
San Francisco (California)
- Contact:
- Terry ; tsbohrer@yahoo.com
- Upcoming Meetings:
Please email for more information on upcoming meetings. Email Support.
- Location:
Please email for specifics and directions.
Pittsfield (Massachusetts)/ (Charlston (South Carolina)
- Contact:
- Jerri Chaplin ; jerpoet@earthlink.net
- Upcoming Meetings:
Email Support.
- Location:
Pittsfield (Massachusetts)/Charlston (South Carolina)
Denver (Colorado)
- Contact:
- Ann ; co4nvahelp@gmail.com
- Upcoming Meetings:
No Meetings. Email support only.
- Location:
Denver, Colorado
Middletown (Connecticut)
- Contact:
- ctpelvic@gmail.com
- Upcoming Meetings:
Please email for information on upcoming meetings. Email support.
- Location:
Please email for specifics and directions.
Royal Oak (Michigan)
- Contact:
- The Women’s Urology and Pelvic Health Center ; Please call 248-898-0898 to be added to the pelvic pain support group email list. You will receive one email per month with instructions on how to RSVP and sign up.
- Upcoming Meetings:
The group currently meets virtually on the second Thursday of every month from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm and is available to women in Michigan only. Here are the 2023 dates: JUNE 8, JULY 13, AUG. 10, SEPT. 14, OCT. 12, NOV. 9, DEC. 14
The Pelvic Pain Support Group of Beaumont Hospital helps women with pelvic pain (including but not limited to IC, vulvar pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, among other forms of uro-genital pain) get the support of others with similar problems, and encourages participants to take active, positive steps toward coping. Staff from the Women’s Urology and Pelvic Health Center will facilitate the group.
- Location:
All meetings are currently virtual.
Women’s Urology and Pelvic Health Center
2 South, Beaumont Hospital
3601 W. 13 Mile Road
Royal Oak, MI 48073
Saginaw (Michigan)
- Contact:
- Kathy ; adatte5689@charter.net
- Upcoming Meetings:
No Meetings, email support only.
- Location:
Saginaw, MI
New York (NY)
- Contact:
- Judy ; drjudysi@gmail.com
- Upcoming Meetings:
No meetings, email support only. Special interest in post menopausal issues.
- Location:
New York City, NY
(New Jersey)
- Contact:
- Michele ; mlb5564@gmail.com
- Upcoming Meetings:
No Meetings. Email support only.
- Location:
New Jersey
(New York/Pennsylvania)
- Contact:
- Piper ; piperbreeze2@gmail.com
- Upcoming Meetings:
No Meetings. Email and phone support. Special interest in support for younger adults late teens and early to mid 20’s. Piper is in her early 20’s.
- Location:
New York State and Pennsylvania
Durham (North Carolina)
- Contact:
- Andrea ; nctrianglevpain@gmail.com
- Upcoming Meetings:
No Meetings. Email support only.
- Location:
Durham, NC
Portland (Oregon)
- Contact:
- Krista ; krista@sparrowfeast.com
- Upcoming Meetings:
Virtual community support group, second Saturday of the month, 10-11:30 AM Pacific; email for the link.
- Location:
Portland, OR
Exton (Pennsylvania)
- Contact:
- Allison Landry ; amlandry5@gmail.com ; 215-920-9937
- Upcoming Meetings:
Email Support. Virtual meetings once/month on a Thursday evening from 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm. Please email or call for more information on upcoming meetings.
- Location:
All meetings are virtual at this time.
Empower Physical Therapy
470 John Young Way, Exton PA 19341
https://www.physicaltherapyempower.com/eventsbeing..
Knoxville (Tennessee)
- Contact:
- April ; aprilclark0422@gmail.com
- Upcoming Meetings:
Email support. No Meetings.
- Location:
Knoxville, TN
Mount Pleasant (Tennessee)
- Contact:
- Rose ; oleary@charter.net
- Upcoming Meetings:
Email, text and phone support. No Meetings.
- Location:
Mount Pleasant, Tennessee
Kent (WA)
- Contact:
- Gerry ; carrickrock@yahoo.com ; 206-310-2540
- Upcoming Meetings:
No meetings, email, phone, and text support only.
- Location:
Kent, WA