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. 2014 Jan;210(1):40.e1-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2013.09.033. Epub 2013 Sep 28.

Prevalence of symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of vulvodynia: population-based estimates from 2 geographic regions

Bernard L Harlow  1 , Christine G Kunitz  1 , Ruby H N Nguyen  1 , Sarah A Rydell  1 , Rachel M Turner  1 , Richard F MacLehose  1
Affiliations

Prevalence of symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of vulvodynia: population-based estimates from 2 geographic regions

Bernard L Harlow et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: We used validated sensitive and specific questions associated with clinically confirmed diagnoses of unexplained vulvar pain (vulvodynia) to compare the cumulative incidence of vulvar pain and prevalence of care-seeking behavior in Boston metropolitan area (BMA) and in Minneapolis/Saint Paul metropolitan area (MSP) from 2001 through 2005 using census-based data, and 2010 through 2012, using outpatient community-clinic data, respectively.

Study design: We received self-administered questionnaires from 5440 women in BMA and 13,681 in MSP, 18-40 years of age, describing their history of vulvar burning or pain on contact that persisted >3 months that limited/prevented intercourse.

Results: By age 40 years, 7-8% in BMA and MSP reported vulvar pain consistent with vulvodynia. Women of Hispanic origin compared to whites were 1.4 times more likely to develop vulvar pain symptoms (95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.8). Many women in MSP (48%) and BMA (30%) never sought treatment, and >50% who sought care with known health care access received no diagnosis.

Conclusion: Using identical screening methods, we report high prevalence of vulvar pain in 2 geographic regions, and that access to health care does not increase the likelihood of seeking care for chronic vulvar pain.

Keywords: ethnic groups; health services accessibility; prevalence; vulvodynia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Age-specific cumulative incidence of vulvodynia among women age 18 to 40 from two geographical locations.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Figure 2a. Age-specific cumulative incidence of vulvodynia by self- reported race/ethnicity among women age 18 to 40 in the Boston metropolitan area, Massachusetts, 2001 – 2005. Figure 2b. Age-specific cumulative incidence of vulvodynia by self-reported race/ethnicity among women age 18 to 40 in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, Minnesota, 2010 –2011.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Figure 2a. Age-specific cumulative incidence of vulvodynia by self- reported race/ethnicity among women age 18 to 40 in the Boston metropolitan area, Massachusetts, 2001 – 2005. Figure 2b. Age-specific cumulative incidence of vulvodynia by self-reported race/ethnicity among women age 18 to 40 in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, Minnesota, 2010 –2011.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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