title: Vulval vestibulitis: a common cause of dyspareunia?
abstract: The prevalence of vulval vestibulitis was evaluated in a prospective observational study. Four hundred women from West Hertfordshire, 100 each from community family planning, antenatal, general practice and genitourinary clinics were investigated. Participants completed a questionnaire and were examined for vulval erythema and point tenderness. An algesiometer was also used to evaluate tenderness. The prevalence of vestibulitis varied from 2.9% to 9.8% depending on the stringency of diagnostic criteria and the method of ascertaining pain. Vulval vestibulitis cannot be accurately defined by current criteria, but superficial dyspareunia appears to be a frequent problem in the community in women consulting for unrelated matters.
authors.affiliation: Watford Sexual Health Centre, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Watford General Hospital, Vicarage Road, Watford WD18 0HB, UK.
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Munday
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Randall
authors.forename: Deidre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Maneesha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ismailjee
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Perreira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003075:Coitus; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012747:Sexual Partners; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014847:Vulvitis / Q000150:complications*