Role of vulvar care guidelines in the initial management of vulvar complaints.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of vulvar care guidelines as the initial treatment of vulvar complaints.


METHODS
A chart review was conducted at the Saint Louis University Vulvar and Vaginal Disease Center. Women with vulvar symptoms in the absence of specific identifiable causes were evaluated and given guidelines for vulvar care. An 11-point Likert scale was used to rate symptoms at the initial and follow-up visits. Compliance level was determined.


RESULTS
A decrease in mean scores was shown for dyspareunia (7.5 ± 2.0 to 4.6 ± 3.1, p < .001), burning after intercourse (6.8 ± 2.7 to 3.4 ± 2.4, p = .10), vulvar burning (5.7 ± 2.6 to 2.1 ± 1.9, p < .001), vulvar itching (4.9 ± 2.8 to 2.5 ± 2.6, p < .001), and vulvar pain (5.8 ± 2.8 to 2.2 ± 3.0, p < .01). The mean dyspareunia difference scores were significant between the low- and high-compliance groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Vulvar care guidelines are successful for the management of vulvar complaints.
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63117, USA. lifitsy@slu.edu
Yulia Marie
YM
Lifits-Podorozhansky
Yelena
Y
Podorozhansky
Susan
S
Hoffstetter
Jeffrey A
JA
Gavard
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult