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Vulvodynia

andrea B dotson, MSPH, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Vulvar pain ≥3 months duration, without visible findings, lab abnormalities, or an identifiable neurologic disorder

  • Provoked vulvodynia is often described as the sensation that someth...

DIAGNOSIS

  • Vulvodynia is a clinical diagnosis; there is no definitive test for diagnosis

  • Pain should be characterized using a standard measure such as the McGill Pain Questionnaire

  • Use physical exam to r...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Multidisciplinary treatment has best outcomes

  • Combination of medical treatments, and psychotherapy, physical therapy, and complementary treatments alleviate symptoms more than...

ONGOING CARE

PATIENT EDUCATION

  • Reassure patients that vulvodynia is not transmissible and does not predispose to cancer (4)[C].

  • Goal of treatment is symptom control, not cure. Remission can be achieved...

REFERENCES

1
Sadownik LA. Etiology, diagnosis, and clinical management of vulvodynia. Int J Womens Health. 2014;6:437-449.
2
Shah M, Hoffstetter S. Vulvodynia. Obstet Gynecol Clin N Am. 2014; 41(3): 453–...

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...

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