A systematic review of vulvodynia: classification, aetiology, diagnosis and treatment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18597/rcog.454Keywords:
vulvovestibulitis, vulvodynia, vulvar painAbstract
Objective: reviewing vulvar pain publications regarding classification, aetiology, diagnosis and therapeutical approaches for proposing a clinical guide for helping health-care providers face this problem.
Methodology: searching electronic database such as Hinari, Pubmed/Medline, Cochrane, SciELO, Lilacs, Core Collections and E-Clinics. Information was also sought in classical dermatology, gynaecology and pathology vulvar texts as well as congress abstracts.
Results: vulvar pain is a frequent problem having multiple aetiological factors; however, evidence supporting causal hypotheses is weak. There is no gold standard for diagnosis, meaning that studies evaluate clinical approaches’ ability to discriminate and their repeatability. Treatment is initially medical and surgical in the last resort. Currently available evidence consists of a few small-scale randomized controlled trials, case series and narrative reviews.
Conclusions: evidence regarding vulvar pain aetiology, diagnosis and treatment is weak.
Author Biographies
Pio Iván Gómez-Sánchez
Juan Guillermo Chalela
Hernando Gaitán-Duarte
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