His and Her Health

Please Help NVA Fund Vital Research
FROM:National Vulvodynia Association
Thursday, December 1, 2011 9:40PM

Dear NVA Friend,



As the year comes to a close, we're writing to thank you for your prior generous support and to ask for your help in funding vital research grants. Ninety percent of NVA's revenue continues to come from individual donors because the majority of corporations and foundations continue to neglect vulvodynia. This means that it's up to us, who suffer from vulvodynia, to enact change for ourselves and for the women who come after us.

This summer we received 16 funding requests. Our expert review panel recommended that NVA's Board consider funding six outstanding proposals seeking a total of $180,000.

If funded, these studies will aid in: i) identifying viruses, bacteria and/or inflammatory compounds in the vulvovaginal tissue that may be responsible for triggering/maintaining vulvodynia; ii) determining specific pelvic floor muscle abnormalities in different vulvodynia subtypes; iii) understanding vulvodynia's effect on fertility, pregnancy and childbirth; iv) identifying abnormal urogenital symptoms experienced in childhood by women who develop vulvodynia; and v) classifying vulvodynia subgroups based on the extent of abnormal peripheral and central pain processing, vestibular skin abnormalities and pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.

Please help the NVA fund as many of these projects as possible by making a tax-deductible donation today - 100 percent of your donation will be used for research. Thank you!

With sincere appreciation,

Phyllis Mate

NVA President


Christin Veasley
NVA Executive Director