title: Long-term follow up of posterior vestibulectomy for treating vulvar vestibulitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and the effectiveness of posterior vestibulectomy in the treatment of vulvar vestibulitis syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Hospital, tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy women treated by posterior vestibulectomy for severe vulvar vestibulitis syndrome during 1995-2007 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Helsinki.
  
  
  METHODS
  All operated women were invited to a long-term follow-up study. Patient characteristics, baseline visual analog scale (VAS) for dyspareunia and data from the postoperative period were collected. Of the 70 women, 57 attended the follow-up visit including face-to-face interview, gynecological examination with swab-touch test for vestibular tenderness, current VAS score for dyspareunia and McCoy questionnaire for sexual problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  Short-term and long-term complication rates, dyspareunia by VAS score, vestibular tenderness, sexual problem index and overall patient satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-one per cent were satisfied with the outcome. The VAS for dyspareunia decreased from a median of 9 to 3 (66.7% decrease; p<0.001). Posterior vestibular tenderness was absent in 34 patients (64.2%). Six (8.6%) patients developed postoperative bleeding and 11 (15.7%) mild wound infection. Bartholin's cysts occurred in four (5.7%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Posterior vestibulectomy is effective and safe in the treatment of severe vulvar vestibulitis syndrome and provides long-term patient satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. päivi.tommola@kolumbus.fi
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tommola
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Unkila-Kallio
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paavonen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014844:Vulva / Q000601:surgery*; D054515:Vulvar Vestibulitis / Q000601:surgery*