title: Vulvodynia: a state-of-the-art consensus on definitions, diagnosis and management.
abstract: Vulvodynia is a chronic pain syndrome affecting up to 18% of the female population. Despite its high prevalence and associated distress, the etiology, diagnosis and clinical management of the disorder have not been clearly delineated. This "white paper" describes the findings and recommendations of a consensus conference panel based on a comprehensive review of the published literature on vulvodynia in addition to expert presentations on research findings and clinical management approaches. The consensus panel also identified key topics and issues forfurther research, including the role of inflammatory mechanisms and genetic factors and psychosexual contributors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. bachmaga@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: Gloria A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Bachmann
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Vivian W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Pinn
authors.forename: Wulf H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Utian
authors.forename: Charletta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ayers
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Basson
authors.forename: Yitzchak M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Binik
authors.forename: Candace
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.forename: Irwin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Graziottin
authors.forename: Hope K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Haefner
authors.forename: Bernard L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Harlow
authors.forename: Susan Kellogg
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Spadt
authors.forename: Sandra R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Leiblum
authors.forename: Robin M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Masheb
authors.forename: Barbara D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Jack D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sobel
authors.forename: Christin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Veasley
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wesselmann
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Witkin
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy