title: History of Abuse in Women With Vulvar Pruritus, Vulvodynia, and Asymptomatic Controls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic vulvar pruritus and vulvodynia are common vulvar diseases. The aim of this study was to compare gynecologic and sexual and physical abuse histories from patients with these diagnoses and from healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were self-completed by patients diagnosed with vulvar itch-scratch (n = 93), patients diagnosed with vulvodynia (n = 232), and patients presenting for annual gynecologic examinations (n = 104) at the University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor, MI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients who came for annual examinations were less likely to report past gynecologic infections (p < .05) and indicated higher interest in and more frequent sexual activity than the other 2 groups (p = .003). Vulvodynia patients had the highest scores on the McGill Pain Questionnaire (p < .001). Subjects with either vulvar disorder were more likely to self-report a history of gynecologic infections than annual examination controls. Rates of sexual (p = .78) and physical abuse (p = .12) were similar for all 3 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with vulvar pruritus and vulvodynia report similar rates of sexual and physical abuse.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel; and 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Bina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cohen-Sacher
authors.forename: Hope K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Haefner
authors.forename: Vanessa K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Dalton
authors.forename: Mitchell B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010298:Parity; D000066550:Physical Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011539:Pruritus Vulvae / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D056650:Vulvodynia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult