Vulvodynia

Jessica Johnson, MD, MPH Reviewed 06/2022

BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Vulvar pain lasting 3 months or more; occurs in the absence of relevant visible findings, relevant lab abnormalities, or a clinically identifiable neurologic disorder
2015 ISSVD (Inte...

DIAGNOSIS

Vulvodynia is a clinical diagnosis and it should be suspected in any women with chronic pain at the introitus and vulva.
Pain should be characterized using a standard measure such as the McGi...

TREATMENT

Treatment is mostly based on expert opinion; high-quality research is limited by lack of standardized treatment outcome measures (6). Some experts prioritize non-pharmacologic therapies as ...

ONGOING CARE

PATIENT EDUCATION

Patients should be reassured that this condition is neither infectious, nor does it predispose to cancer (5)[C]. Counsel that condition is manageable, but likely not cur...

REFERENCES

Bornstein J, Goldstein AT, Stockdale CK, et al. 2015 ISSVD, ISSWSH and IPPS consensus terminology and classification of persistent vulvar pain and vulvodynia. Ob...

ADDITIONAL READING

Goldstein AT, Pukall CF, Brown C, et al. Vulvodynia: Assessment and Treatment. J Sexual Med. 2016;13(4):572-590.

CODES

ICD10

N94.819 Vulvodynia, unspecified
N94.818 Other vulvodynia
N94.810 Vulvar vestibulitis

SNOMED

238968009 vulvodynia (disorder)
30833006 vulvar vestibulitis (disorder)

CLINICAL PEARLS

Vulvodynia is a clinical diagnosis; it should be suspected in any woman with chronic pain at the introitus and vulva.
A decrease in pain may take weeks to months and may not be complete...

Subscribe to Access Full Content

START 10-DAY FREE TRIAL

Subscribe Now

Forgot password?

Enter an Access Code

GET CME/CE