Psychosocial and sexual functioning in women with vulvodynia and chronic pelvic pain. A comparative evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether women with vulvodynia differ from women with chronic pelvic pain and normal controls in their psychological functioning, somatic preoccupation, pain experience and sexual functioning.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, self-report study of women presenting to University of Michigan specialty and general clinics for the treatment of vulvodynia or chronic pelvic pain or seeking a routine gynecologic examination. All subjects completed questionnaires assessing demographic characteristics, pain, depressive symptoms, general affective state, marital adjustment, functional activity, somatic complaints, exposures, and medical and sexual history. Univariate analyses, chi 2 tests, analyses of variance and logistic regression were used to assess associations between these variables and the diagnostic category.


RESULTS
Women with vulvodynia (n = 31) were similar to asymptomatic control women (n = 23) in demographic characteristics, sexual relationship variables, sexual behaviors, current and past depression, somatic sensitivity, and history of sexual or physical abuse. Women with chronic pelvic pain (n = 18) were younger and less educated than the other two groups and were more likely to have a history of physical and sexual abuse, to report recent depression and to screen positive for current depression, to have more work absences and to have more somatic complaints.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with vulvodynia are psychologically similar to control women but differ significantly from women with chronic pelvic pain. A primary psychological cause of vulvodynia is not supported.
Reed
B D
BD
Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109, USA. barbr@umich.edu
Haefner
H K
HK
Punch
M R
MR
Roth
R S
RS
Gorenflo
D W
DW
Gillespie
B W
BW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*