Sorry it took so long to respond to this, Married Mom. I didn't see it until yesterday, and then I was too snowed under with work to visit the Board.Like IBS, vulvodynia is diagnosis of exclusion after all other possible causes have been ruled out such as infections, eczema, lichen planus, etc. I belong to an online support group that you can join at vulvodynia###yahoogroups.com They have a lot of good information although, like here, things can occasionally get contentious. A lot of the women have the same thing I do--I call it the "Terrible Trio"--of IBS, interstitial cystitis and vulvodynia. Besides IBS D, my symptoms include burning, itching, pain, skin that tears easily with fissures that look like "paper cuts," frequency of urination (it feels like I have to go right after I'm done going) and bladder spasms. Having symptoms only during a certain part of your cycle like you describe is typical of one type of vulvodynia. A lot of doctors (even gynos) don't know much about it, and it's very hard to find a specialist to treat you. The NVA (at NVA.com) has a list, I believe.