Vulvodynia: A disease commonly hidden in plain sight

Vieira-Baptista, P. ; Lima-Silva, J. ; Pérez-López, F.R. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Preti, M. ; Bornstein, J.

Resumen: Vulvodynia is a poorly recognized entity by clinicians – even by those who deal with female sexual health. While the study of vulvovaginal diseases, including pain disorders, is included in most residency programs in North America, it is acknowledged that clinical exposure may be insufficient. The scenario in the rest of the world is probably no better.
Vulvodynia affects at least 6% of women (up to 20% in some series), and can be found at any age and in all ethnic groups. The disease is common and dramatically affects quality of life, beyond the obvious sexual aspect. The importance of investigating vulvar symptoms even in younger women is underlined by studies reporting that the prevalence of vulvodynia among adolescents is similar to that among adult women.
The International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD) defined vulvodynia as vulvar pain of at least 3?months'' duration, without clear identifiable cause, which may have potential associated factors– or, more simply, idiopathic vulvar pain. It was subdivided according to location (generalized, localized) and the need of a stimulus to elicit the symptoms (provoked, spontaneous, or mixed). In the terminology recommended in 2015 it was acknowledged that there are potential associated factors...

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.crwh.2018.e00079

Año: 2018

Publicado en: Case reports in women's health 20 (2018), e00079 [3 pp]
ISSN: 2214-9112

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.11 - Obstetrics and Gynecology (Q4)

Tipo y forma: (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Obstetricia y Ginecología (Dpto. Cirugía,Ginecol.Obstetr.)