Prolonged neuronal firing sensitizes neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, causing them to abnormally interpret the sensation of touch in the vestibule as pain (3)

*(3) Westrom LV, Willen R. Vestibular Nerve Fibre Proliferation in Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome. Obstet Gynecol. 1998;91:571-576.

** (4) Bohm-Starke N, Hilliges M, Falconer C, et al. Increased Epithelial Innervation in Women with Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome. Gynecol Obstet Invest. 1998;46:256-260.