The prevalence and relevance of vulvodynia

This chapter focuses on the burden of vulvodynia by discussing both its quantitative burden, as described by prevalence rates, as well as the personal and social burden of living with chronic vulvar pain, which is often compounded by gender-specific roles and norms such as with pregnancy. The presence of chronic overlapping pain conditions is associated with impaired mental health, such as heightened feelings of isolation and invalidation by others of their pain status, and therefore likely to be associated with womens' psychosocial well-being. The burden of vulvodynia for each individual has been measured in many ways, including by how the pain interferes with daily activities, using what is termed "pain interference. " Medical, physiological, and psychological approaches to treating the condition have been sought, with some being efficacious for certain outcomes including improved sexual functioning.