The DOI matches its Crossref record; 220 of the 220 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Vulvodynia
Abstract
Vulvodynia is a condition that occurs in 8-10% of women of all ages and is characterized by pain at the vulva that is present during sexual and/or non-sexual situations. Diagnosis is established through careful medical history and pelvic examination, including the cotton-swab test. The onset and maintenance of vulvodynia involves a complex interplay of peripheral and central pain mechanisms, pelvic floor muscle and autonomic dysfunction, anxiety, depression and childhood maltreatment as well as cognitive-affective, behavioural and interpersonal factors. Given the absence of empirically supported treatment guidelines, a stepwise approach of pelvic floor physical therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy as well as medical management is suggested, with surgery as the last option. Vulvodynia has a negative effect on the quality of life of women and their partners, and imposes a profound personal and societal economic burden. In addition, women with vulvodynia are more likely to report other chronic pain conditions, which further alters their quality of life. Future efforts should aim to increase girls', women's and healthcare professionals' education and awareness of vulvodynia, phenotype different subgroups of women based on biopsychosocial characteristics among more diverse samples, conduct longitudinal studies and improve clinical trial designs.
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“The aetiology is not clear, but a combination of psychosocial and pathophysiological mechanisms is believed to contribute to the onset (Bergeron et al., 2020; Bornstein et al., 2016; Faye and Piraccini, 2020).”
From Internet-based treatment for vulvodynia (EMBLA) – Study protocol for a randomised controlled study (2021) · cites this paper as Bergeron et al., 2020
In the citing paper
“Regarding treatment, a multidisciplinary approach is recommended, and pelvic floor physiotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) are considered first line treatment (Bergeron et al., 2020; De Andres et al., 2016; Rosen and Dawson, 2019; Sadownik, 2014, van der Meijden et al., 2017).”
From Internet-based treatment for vulvodynia (EMBLA) – Study protocol for a randomised controlled study (2021) · cites this paper as Bergeron et al., 2020
In the citing paper
“Vulvodynia has a negative impact in women's well-being and psychosexual function (van der Meijden et al., 2017), and the care available may vary depending on local resources (Bergeron et al., 2020).”
From Internet-based treatment for vulvodynia (EMBLA) – Study protocol for a randomised controlled study (2021) · cites this paper as Bergeron et al., 2020
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
2021 European guideline for the management of vulval conditions
van der Meijden, W. I., Boffa, M. J., ter Harmsel, B., Kirtschig, G., Lewis, F., Moyal‐Barracco, M., Ţiplica, G., & Sherrard, J. (2022) · Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology · doi:10.1111/jdv.18102 · Cited by 122
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EuroGuiderm guideline on lichen sclerosus—Treatment of lichen sclerosus
Kirtschig, G., Kinberger, M., Kreuter, A., Simpson, R. C., Günthert, A. R., van Hees, C., Becker, K., Ramakers, M. J., Corazza, M., Müller, S., et al. (2024) · Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology · doi:10.1111/jdv.20083 · Cited by 71
Meade, E., & Garvey, M. (2022) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms23158574 · Cited by 56
Treatment of provoked vulvodynia: a systematic review
Bohm-Starke, N., Ramsay, K. W., Lytsy, P., Nordgren, B., Sjöberg, I., Moberg, K., & Flink, I. (2022) · The Journal of Sexual Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2022.02.008 · Cited by 51
Self-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- Bergeron, S., Reed, B. D., Wesselmann, U., & Bohm-Starke, N.
- Affiliations
- Université de Montréal (CA)
- University of Michigan (US)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bergeron, Sophie
- Venue
- Nature Reviews Disease Primers
- Published
- 2020-04-30
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 36-36
- ISSN
- 2056-676X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4211104100
- Cited by
- 158
- References
- 220
- Citations by year
- 2026: 32 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 4
- FWCI
- 2.73
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Nature Reviews Disease Primers (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Urology › Pelvic floor disorders treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Genital Health and Disease
- Keywords
- vulvodynia, vulvar pain, chronic pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, autonomic dysfunction, anxiety and depression, child abuse, cognitive behavioral therapy, pelvic floor physiotherapy, medical management, quality of life, economic burden, chronic pain comorbidity, biopsychosocial model
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Pain, Sexual Behavior, Vulvodynia
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