Vestibulectomy for vulvar vestibulitis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if surgery is an effective therapy for vulvar vestibulitis.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review of all patients having vestibulectomy at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, from 1992 to 2001 was performed. A scoring system measuring objective and subjective findings was used both preoperatively and postoperatively to assess the effects of surgery. A paired t test was used to analyze the difference between preoperative and postoperative symptom scores. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test evaluated changes in symptom scores.


RESULTS
Thirty-eight of 42 patients (90%) with "pure" vulvar vestibulitis, as determined by physical findings and pathologic confirmation, had a significant improvement (P < .01) in their symptoms. The remaining 4 patients had confounding factors that may explain their lack of improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Vestibulectomy is a simple and very effective treatment for vulvar vestibulitis.
Gaunt
Glenn
G
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Ei-4A, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Good
Andrew
A
Stanhope
C Robert
CR
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018579:Patient Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014848:Vulvovaginitis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*