ABSTRACT
Vulvodynia is a multifactorial chronic pain condition (1) that may affect up to
28% of women at some time during their lifetime (2). Prevalence figures for
premenopausal women are as high as 12%. Characterized by symptoms of
vulvar burning and pain (3), vulvodynia is an idiopathic condition that is not
well understood. Historically, much of what was known about vulvodynia origi-
nated from case reports and studies conducted in clinical populations, resulting in
controversy regarding its classification, diagnosis, and management. In the late
1990s, increased research funding, especially that awarded by the National
Institutes of Health, provided support for structured scientific and clinical
protocols designed to study the pathophysiology, treatment, and epidemiology
of this condition. As more data emerge, it is beginning to appear that vulvodynia
is not a highly localized pain disorder confined to the vulva; rather, vulvodynia
may be indicative of a more generalized sensory abnormality in affected women.
Terminology and History
