title: Vulvodynia.
abstract: Vulvodynia is a complex disorder reported by up to 16% of women in the general population. While most patients describe it as burning, stinging, irritation, or rawness, it is underreported and underrecognized by providers. Vulvodynia is costly both economically and psychologically due to its negative impact on quality of life. Vulvodynia is a diagnosis of exclusion with unknown etiology and may involve multiple sources of pain in the same woman. Thus, there are no clinical or histopathologic criteria for the diagnosis other than consideration and careful evaluation to exclude other causes of pain. Successful therapy often requires a multidisciplinary approach with more than one therapeutic intervention to address the physical, psychological, psychosexual, and relationship components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 200 Hawkins Drive, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA. Electronic address: erin-eppsteiner@uiowa.edu.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eppsteiner
authors.affiliation: University of Central Florida College of Medicine, 12201 Research Parkway, 3rd Floor, Orlando, FL 32816-0116, USA.
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boardman
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 200 Hawkins Drive, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Colleen K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Stockdale
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D056650:Vulvodynia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
keywords: dyspareunia; vestibulodynia; vulvar pain; vulvodynia