What is pudendal neuralgia?
Pudendal neuralgia is a chronic pelvic pain that originates from damage or irritation of the pudendal nerve. Pudendal nerve is a very important nerve and is crucial for sensation and function on your pelvic area, including the genital and anus.
What Pudendal nerve does?
Pudendal nerve connects with S2-S4 sacral spinal nerve roots and runs through your pelvis and gluteal region and divides into smaller nerve branches. Those branches are
inferior rectal nerve
perineal nerve
dorsal nerve
Pudendal's nerve motor function controls the movement of your:
Anal sphincter muscles which helps you release or hold faces (poo)
Urethral sphincter muscles which help you hold in or release urine (pee)
The pudendal nerve also provides sensory information about touch, temperature, pain and pleasure to your:
Penis
Vagina
Perineum (region between your anus and your vagina or penis)
anal canal or anus