title: Vulvodynia: diagnosis and management.
abstract: The diagnosis of vulvodynia is made after taking a careful history, ruling out infectious or dermatologic abnormalities, and eliciting pain in response to light pressure on the labia, introitus, or hymenal remnants. Several treatment options have been used, although the evidence for many of these treatments is incomplete. Treatments include oral medications that decrease nerve hypersensitivity (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, anticonvulsants), pelvic floor biofeedback, cognitive behavioral therapy, local treatments, and (rarely) surgery. Most women experience substantial improvement when one or more treatments are used.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, USA. barbr@umich.edu
authors.forename: Barbara D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D011379:Prognosis; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents