Vulvodynia: characteristics and associations with comorbidities and quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
This case-control survey compared health history and health care use of women with vulvodynia with a control group reporting absence of gynecologic pain.


METHODS
Women with a clinically assessed diagnosis of vulvodynia and asymptomatic controls were matched for age and mailed a confidential survey that evaluated demographics, health history, use of the health care system, and history of vulvodynia. Participants were all current or former ambulatory patients within a university health care system.


RESULTS
Of the 512 questionnaires mailed to valid addresses, 70% (n = 91) of cases and 72% (n = 275) of controls responded, with 77 cases and 208 controls meeting eligibility criteria. Women with vulvodynia reported a substantial negative impact on quality of life, with 42% feeling out of control of their lives and 60% feeling out of control of their bodies. Forty-one percent indicated a severe impact on their sexual lives. When comorbidities were evaluated individually and adjusted for age, fibromyalgia (odds ratio 3.84, 95% confidence interval 1.54-9.55) and irritable bowel syndrome (odds ratio 3.11, 95% confidence interval 1.60-6.05) were significantly associated with vulvodynia. On a multivariate level, vulvodynia was correlated with a history of chronic yeast vaginitis and urinary tract infections.


CONCLUSIONS
This survey highlights the psychological distress associated with vulvodynia and underscores the need for prospective studies to investigate the relationship between chronic bladder and vaginal infections as etiologies for this condition. As well, the association of vulvodynia with other comorbid conditions, such as fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome, needs to be further evaluated.


METHODS
II-2.
Arnold
Lauren D
LD
Women's Health Institute, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA.
Bachmann
Gloria A
GA
Rosen
Raymond
R
Kelly
Sarah
S
Rhoads
George G
GG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011788:Quality of Life; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology