title: Clinical and therapeutic aspects of vulvodynia: the importance of physical therapy.
abstract: Vulvodynia affects a large number of women worldwide. It is estimated that the prevalence rate of vulvodynia is 16% in women aged 18 to 64 years, resulting in constant demand for specialized medical care, although little therapeutic success is achieved. Furthermore, the cause of this disorder remains unknown and involves different symptoms that are implicated in important chronic vulvar pain with disastrous consequences for the afflicted women. In view of these data, the authors have proposed a bibliographic review of the pathophysiology and treatment of vulvodynia. The aim of this review was to assist in clinical diagnosis and elucidate the multidisciplinary treatment that appears to be associated with a higher success rate in these women. Physical therapy using diverse techniques has an important role in multidisciplinary care, obtaining satisfactory results in the treatment of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction and thus improving the symptoms and quality of life in women with vulvodynia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Polpeta
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Giraldo
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Teatin Juliato
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Gomes Do Amaral
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moreno Linhares
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romero Leal Passos
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D056650:Vulvodynia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*