Tampon test measurement properties in women with provoked vestibulodynia: baseline data from a pragmatic randomized clinical trial.
Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a common cause of dyspareunia in young women. Because intercourse-related pain cannot be assessed consistently in all affected women, the tampon test (TT) is often used as a standardized proxy for insertional pain. This study aimed to evaluate within-person variabili…
Topical resiniferatoxin for the treatment of vestibulodynia: a prospective observational trial.
Vestibulodynia is the most common subtype of vulvodynia and is characterized by persitent, contact-evoked pain localized to the vulvar vestibule. Increasing evidence supports a neuropathic pain mechanism in vestibulodynia, including vestibular hyperinnervation, neuroinflammation, and overexpression…
Narratives on Sexuality in Vulvodynia and Endometriosis. A Qualitative Study on Italian Couples.
Although qualitative research on dyspareunia has increased in recent years, most studies have focused on women's individual experiences or on specific difficulties within the couple, leaving underexplored how partners jointly construct the meanings of sexuality when pain becomes part of the relation…
Body image concerns in individuals with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Body image disturbance is a commonly experienced psychological impact of endometriosis and other chronic pelvic pain (CPP) conditions (e.g., vulvodynia). This systematic review and meta-analysis of quantitative literature aimed to describe the prevalence of body image concerns in endometriosis and o…
Preclinical models of female pelvic pain disorders.
Pain is influenced by a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. Sex has emerged as a key determinant of vulnerability to chronic pain and a major risk factor for poor response to available pharmacological treatments. Women report higher rates of chronic pain and exhibit g…
Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives in vulvodynia: From current evidence to future investigations.
Vulvodynia is defined as chronic vulvar pain persisting for at least 3 months without a clear identifiable cause. It affects 10%-16% of women, and despite its high prevalence and the severity of symptoms, vulvodynia remains significantly understudied. Here, we consolidate and analyze the scientific…
The Association Between Vulvodynia and Subsequent Morbidity Across the Life Course.
Vulvodynia is chronic vulvar pain frequently associated with other comorbid chronic pain conditions. However, it is unclear whether women with vulvodynia experience higher rates of non-pain-related disorders after first onset of vulvar pain relative to unexposed women. Women born in Sweden between 1…