title: Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome: an important factor in the evaluation of lifelong vaginismus?
abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS) in a sample of women suffering from lifelong vaginismus (N=91). Lifelong vaginismus is defined as "having a history of never having been able to experience penile entry of the vagina". The results with respect to VVS are compared with the results of women who are suffering from pain during intercourse (superficial dyspareunia) (N=84). Both patients groups were recruited from two treatment outcome studies. Using a standard physical examination, erythema was found in 77%, pain "on touch" in 69% and erythema and pain on the same location was seen in 56% of the patients with lifelong vaginismus. Furthermore, it was found that erythema (94%), pain (98%) and erythema and pain on the same location (92%) were more frequently found in patients with dyspareunia compared to women with lifelong vaginismus. It is concluded that pain is an integral part of the experiences in the majority of women with lifelong vaginismus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Gynecology and Sexology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. m.m.ter_kuile@lumc.nl
authors.forename: Moniek M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ter Kuile
authors.forename: Jacques J D M
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Van Lankveld
authors.forename: Corrie Vliet
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Vlieland
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Willekes
authors.forename: Philomeen T M
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Weijenborg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004890:Erythema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013577:Syndrome; D052065:Vaginismus / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014847:Vulvitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*