title: Prevalence of vulvodynia and risk factors for the condition in Portugal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of vulvodynia in Portugal and factors associated with this condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, an online survey was distributed by email and posted on a website and social networks. Women aged at least 18 years who were living in Portugal were eligible to complete the survey between June 1 and November 30, 2013. Participants had to have had symptoms for at least 6 months to be deemed to have vulvodynia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 1229 questionnaires were included in analyses. A total of 80 (6.5%) women had vulvodynia at the time of the survey, and 117 (9.5%) had had it previously; lifetime prevalence was 16.0%. Pregnancy and type of delivery were not associated with vulvodynia. Women who had ever taken oral contraceptives were significantly more likely to have ever had vulvodynia (P<0.010). Candidiasis, genital herpes, urinary tract infections, depression, and premenstrual syndrome were associated with ever having had vulvodynia (P<0.01). Pain syndromes were associated with ever having had vulvodynia, especially fibromyalgia and bladder pain syndrome (P<0.001). Scoliosis and hysterectomy were also significantly associated (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of vulvodynia in Portugal is similar to that elsewhere. Three main groups of factors might lead to vulvodynia: local inflammatory factors, general pain susceptibility, and pelvic nerve interference.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, São João Hospital, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: pedrovieirabaptista@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vieira-Baptista
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, São João Hospital, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lima-Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, São João Hospital, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cavaco-Gomes
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, São João Hospital, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beires
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D056650:Vulvodynia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Europe; Portugal; Vulvar disease; Vulvar pain; Vulvodynia