Beyond vulvodynia: from a correct diagnosis to a multidisciplinary care program. A referral center experience.
Differential diagnosis
Treatment
Vulvar pain
Vulvodynia
Journal
Archives of gynecology and obstetrics
ISSN: 1432-0711
Titre abrégé: Arch Gynecol Obstet
Pays: Germany
ID NLM: 8710213
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
18 Apr 2024
18 Apr 2024
Historique:
received:
17
11
2023
accepted:
25
03
2024
medline:
18
4
2024
pubmed:
18
4
2024
entrez:
18
4
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Vulvodynia is a chronic pain condition without an identifiable cause. As such, it is a diagnosis of exclusion, and all other causes of vulvar pain should be excluded. Although a standard treatment for vulvodynia has not been established yet, multidisciplinary care programs appear to be effective. The aim of this retrospective monocentric study was to analyze the prevalence of vulvodynia among women referred to our institution for a suspected diagnosis and to evaluate the efficacy of a multidimensional treatment plan. The primary outcome was the prevalence of vulvodynia following differential diagnosis. Secondary outcomes included: prevalence of the differential diagnoses, symptom resolution rate following treatment, and the relation between persistence of symptoms and (a) patients' age; (b) coexisting chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs). After having ruled out all other causes of vulvar pain, only 40.1% of women were considered as affected by vulvodynia. The most frequent differential diagnoses included lower genital tract infections (25.3%), vulvar lichen sclerosus (17.6%) and vulvovaginal atrophy (8.2%). Following a multidisciplinary care program, resolution of symptoms was observed in 13.6% cases, improvement in 64.3% and persistence in 21.9%. We did not find a statistically significant association between persistence of symptoms and age > 38 years (OR 2.10; p = 0.30). Women with one or more COPCs other than vulvodynia had a 75% increased risk of not obtaining a resolution of symptoms (OR 1.75; p = 0.44). A thorough differential diagnosis and a multidisciplinary care program may represent a first way out of the muddle in the management of these patients.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Vulvodynia is a chronic pain condition without an identifiable cause. As such, it is a diagnosis of exclusion, and all other causes of vulvar pain should be excluded. Although a standard treatment for vulvodynia has not been established yet, multidisciplinary care programs appear to be effective.
PUROPOSE
UNASSIGNED
The aim of this retrospective monocentric study was to analyze the prevalence of vulvodynia among women referred to our institution for a suspected diagnosis and to evaluate the efficacy of a multidimensional treatment plan. The primary outcome was the prevalence of vulvodynia following differential diagnosis. Secondary outcomes included: prevalence of the differential diagnoses, symptom resolution rate following treatment, and the relation between persistence of symptoms and (a) patients' age; (b) coexisting chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs).
RESULTS
RESULTS
After having ruled out all other causes of vulvar pain, only 40.1% of women were considered as affected by vulvodynia. The most frequent differential diagnoses included lower genital tract infections (25.3%), vulvar lichen sclerosus (17.6%) and vulvovaginal atrophy (8.2%). Following a multidisciplinary care program, resolution of symptoms was observed in 13.6% cases, improvement in 64.3% and persistence in 21.9%. We did not find a statistically significant association between persistence of symptoms and age > 38 years (OR 2.10; p = 0.30). Women with one or more COPCs other than vulvodynia had a 75% increased risk of not obtaining a resolution of symptoms (OR 1.75; p = 0.44).
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
A thorough differential diagnosis and a multidisciplinary care program may represent a first way out of the muddle in the management of these patients.
Identifiants
pubmed: 38634899
doi: 10.1007/s00404-024-07496-0
pii: 10.1007/s00404-024-07496-0
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Informations de copyright
© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
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