TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of vulvodynia
T2 - Population-based estimates from 2 geographic regions
AU - Harlow, Bernard L
AU - Kunitz, Christine G.
AU - Nguyen, Ruby H
AU - Rydell, Sarah A.
AU - Turner, Rachel M.
AU - Maclehose, Richard F
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by National Institutes of Health grant numbers R01-HD384285 and R01-HD058608 .
Copyright:
Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2014/1
Y1 - 2014/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - ethnic groups
KW - health services accessibility
KW - prevalence
KW - vulvodynia
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ajog.2013.09.033
DO - 10.1016/j.ajog.2013.09.033
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84890858906
VL - 210
SP - 40.e1-40.e8
JO - American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
JF - American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
SN - 0002-9378
IS - 1
ER -