Vulvodynia is one of the most underdiagnosed pain conditions affecting women, and it can make sex unbearable. Blank&'s Head of Content, Fanni Koliseva, shares how her own experience with vulvodynia led to the creation of a CBD-infused lubricant — and what current research says about CBD's effect on intimate pain and inflammation.
Blank&'s story began with a single wish: a life with less pain. My own story with vulvodynia is probably similar to many others.
For years I ran from one doctor to another, who told me to sit in hot baths and wear cotton underwear. They prescribed numbing gel and told me to do pelvic floor exercises. Nothing helped. Cactus-like pain, the inability to wear jeans, and depression followed one another, because it felt like no one could help.
Vulvodynia is a chronic pain condition, lasting at least three months, that affects the vulvar area without a clear identifiable cause. It's estimated to affect nearly a third of women at some point in their lives, and it remains one of the most underdiagnosed women's health issues overall. The condition often significantly impairs sexual wellbeing, since one of its most typical symptoms is pain during intercourse.
That same sense of hopelessness kept showing up across online forums and social media comment sections dedicated to intimate pain. Every option had been tried, and the tormenting pain had settled into daily life to stay.
Still, online forums can be genuinely useful from a peer-support perspective — they bring to light approaches that would otherwise stay hidden.
I noticed one thread mentioning CBD oil and its possible benefits. Women suffering from nerve pain had been applying it directly to the intimate area. A year later, in the summer of 2023, that idea became Etna — our CBD-infused lubricant. The rest is history.
CBD extract and intimate pain conditions
Right now, Etna is one of our brand's two best-selling products. Launching Etna also gave me the chance to talk with women dealing with pain conditions of their own. Some have cancer, some have vulvodynia, some are dealing with perimenopausal symptoms, and some are simply looking for relief from an undefined discomfort during sex. For some, Etna has been nothing short of a rescue for their sex life.
While Etna was being developed, I was one of the testers for every lab batch. Months passed, and I suddenly noticed that the pain days caused by my vulvodynia had dropped from weeks to just a handful of days a month. Two years on, I can say wholeheartedly that Etna has been one of the biggest helps in taming my nerve pain. But how exactly can a CBD extract help with stinging pain and symptoms like those caused by vulvodynia?
In recent years, researchers have taken a growing interest in vulvodynia and vestibulodynia — pain conditions in which the vulvar area experiences burning, stinging, tenderness to touch, and pain during intercourse.
Research suggests these symptoms are often linked to localized inflammation and heightened sensitivity of nerve endings. In other words, the pain isn't necessarily caused by visible tissue damage, but by the area's nervous system reacting more intensely than usual to touch and other stimuli.
That's why many experts emphasize that intimate care products need more than just slip and glide. A product's ability to support mucosal wellbeing and minimize irritation matters just as much. That insight also guided us throughout Etna's development process.
CBD extract soothes and reduces inflammation
CBD extract is a compound derived from hemp (non-intoxicating) known especially for its anti-inflammatory and calming properties.
Studies have found that topically applied CBD can affect skin nerve endings and inflammatory responses. In one study of vestibulodynia patients, participants using a CBD-containing gel reported significantly greater relief from pain during intercourse compared to the placebo group.*
Our calming CBD lubricant, Etna, is built around three key ingredients:
- CBD extract reduces inflammation and soothes mucous membranes
- Sea buckthorn provides moisture
- Vitamin E protects and strengthens the skin
Research has shown that CBD interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate pain, muscle tension, and the stress response, among other things. That's why the extract's anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing properties make it an interesting addition not just to lubricants, but to other pain-relief products as well.
Around the world, the use of CBD for pain management has become increasingly common, particularly in North America, Canada, and across Europe. CBD is used to address pelvic floor tightness, skin inflammation, nerve pain in the limbs, rheumatoid arthritis pain, and post-exercise muscle tension.
CBD is said to be especially helpful for pain felt at the skin's surface — the kind that's hard to treat with oral painkillers. That observation is also what led to Etna's creation: through hands-on testing with our trial group, we found that CBD extract eases symptoms of intimate pain conditions, including vulvodynia.
That said, the best way to know if it works for you is to try it yourself!
The author is Blank&'s Head of Content, Fanni Koliseva, who has lived with vulvodynia-related pain for years. This article does not replace medical advice. If pain persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, it's always worth discussing with a healthcare professional.
*Efficacy and Safety of Topical 5% Cannabidiol Plus Myrcene for the Treatment of Vestibulodynia: A Multi-Centric Randomized Controlled Trial
0 comments