Grant: Operating Grant -PA: Gender, Sex and Health Res. -Work & Hlth & Sexual Hlth

This study focuses on a common form of chronic genital pain, vulvodynia, experienced by women. Vulvodynia is defined as chronic vulvar (external genital) pain that is usually described as burning. It is estimated to affect approximately 16% of women at some point in their lives, with over 90% of sufferers reporting ongoing pain for several years. Despite the fact that vulvodynia affects so many women for so long, this condition is poorly understood and often misdiagnosed or ignored. In addition to the substantial pain that these women experience, the pain exists in a body region that directly and negatively impacts their intimate lives. As such, vulvodynia entails a substantial personal cost to patients and a significant financial cost to society. For example, vulvodynia is associated with hardships in many life domains; in terms of psychological well-being and intimate relationship adjustment, many women report feeling depressed and anxious, and they report being fearful that their relationships will end because of the pain and associated issues. Regarding societal costs, vulvodynia is difficult to diagnose and treat, and many women suffer for long periods of time without relief. One study found that only 60% of affected women sought treatment; of these, 30% consulted three or more physicians to obtain a diagnosis, and the condition remained undiagnosed in 40%. Unfortunately, little is known about the causes of vulvodynia, and treatments are often applied in a haphazard manner, leading to lengthy time periods before any noticeable decrease in pain can be achieved. The purpose of this study is to find out what kind of pain best describes vulvodynia so that treatment plans can be optimized. The information from this study will improve the personal and interpersonal lives of women who suffer from this chronic condition and will streamline their access to appropriate treatment options.