OBJECTIVE: We used validated sensitive and specific questions associated with clinically confirmed diagnoses of unexplained vulvar pain (vulvodynia) to compare the cumulative incidence of vulvar pain and prevalence of care-seeking behavior in Boston metropolitan area (BMA) and in Minneapolis/Saint Paul metropolitan area (MSP) from 2001 through 2005 using census-based data, and 2010 through 2012, using outpatient community-clinic data, respectively. STUDY DESIGN: We received self-administered questionnaires from 5440 women in BMA and 13,681 in MSP, 18-40 years of age, describing their history of vulvar burning or pain on contact that persisted >3 months that limited/prevented intercourse. RESULTS: By age 40 years, 7-8% in BMA and MSP reported vulvar pain consistent with vulvodynia. Women of Hispanic origin compared to whites were 1.4 times more likely to develop vulvar pain symptoms (95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.8). Many women in MSP (48%) and BMA (30%) never sought treatment, and >50% who sought care with known health care access received no diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Using identical screening methods, we report high prevalence of vulvar pain in 2 geographic regions, and that access to health care does not increase the likelihood of seeking care for chronic vulvar pain.
OBJECTIVE: We used validated sensitive and specific questions associated with clinically confirmed diagnoses of unexplained vulvar pain (vulvodynia) to compare the cumulative incidence of vulvar pain and prevalence of care-seeking behavior in Boston metropolitan area (BMA) and in Minneapolis/Saint Paul metropolitan area (MSP) from 2001 through 2005 using census-based data, and 2010 through 2012, using outpatient community-clinic data, respectively. STUDY DESIGN: We received self-administered questionnaires from 5440 women in BMA and 13,681 in MSP, 18-40 years of age, describing their history of vulvar burning or pain on contact that persisted >3 months that limited/prevented intercourse. RESULTS: By age 40 years, 7-8% in BMA and MSP reported vulvar pain consistent with vulvodynia. Women of Hispanic origin compared to whites were 1.4 times more likely to develop vulvar pain symptoms (95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.8). Many women in MSP (48%) and BMA (30%) never sought treatment, and >50% who sought care with known health care access received no diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Using identical screening methods, we report high prevalence of vulvar pain in 2 geographic regions, and that access to health care does not increase the likelihood of seeking care for chronic vulvar pain.
Authors: Ruby H N Nguyen; Richard F MacLehose; Christin Veasley; Rachael M Turner; Bernard L Harlow; Keith J Horvath Journal: J Reprod Med Date: 2012 Mar-Apr Impact factor: 0.142
Authors: Bernard L Harlow; Gabriela Vazquez; Richard F MacLehose; Darin J Erickson; J Michael Oakes; Susan J Duval Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2009-09 Impact factor: 2.681
Authors: Candace S Brown; Davis C Foster; Candi C Bachour; Leslie A Rawlinson; Jim Y Wan; Gloria Ann Bachmann Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2015-08-20 Impact factor: 2.681
Authors: Alexandra M Klann; Jessica Rosenberg; Tanran Wang; Samantha E Parker; Bernard L Harlow Journal: J Low Genit Tract Dis Date: 2019-07 Impact factor: 1.925
Authors: Megan L Falsetta; David C Foster; Collynn F Woeller; Stephen J Pollock; Adrienne D Bonham; Dorota Piekna-Przybylska; Sanjay B Maggirwar; Constantine G Haidaris; Richard P Phipps Journal: J Low Genit Tract Dis Date: 2018-01 Impact factor: 1.925
Authors: Candi C Bachour; Gloria A Bachmann; David C Foster; Jim Y Wan; Leslie A Rawlinson; Candace S Brown Journal: Clin Trials Date: 2016-08-11 Impact factor: 2.486
Authors: Judith M Schlaeger; Heather A Pauls; Keesha L Powell-Roach; Patrick D Thornton; Dee Hartmann; Marie L Suarez; William H Kobak; Tonda L Hughes; Alana D Steffen; Crystal L Patil Journal: J Sex Med Date: 2019-06-14 Impact factor: 3.802