Psychological factors associated with perception of experimental pain in vulvar vestibulitis syndrome

Abstract

This study assessed the association between pain perception and psychological variables in women with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS) by comparing 28 VVS women with 50 healthy women. We assessed non genital systemic pain perception with quantitative sensory testing by administering experimental pain stimuli to the forearm. The VVS women demonstrated a lower pain threshold and a higher magnitude estimation of pain, combined with a higher trait anxiety, increased somatization, and a lower body image. Among the VVS women, nonvaginal pain catastrophizing was significantly related to reported pain during coitus. A cluster analysis revealed four subtypes of VVS women, as characterized by levels of pain and personality variables. I suggest implications for the assessment and treatment of women suffering from painful coitus.