Vulvodínia: diagnóstico e tratamento / Vulvodynia: diagnosis and treatment

A vulvodínia é uma condição de desconforto vulvar crônico que afeta milhares de mulheres a cada ano. Trata-se de síndrome multifatorial com grande impacto na qualidade de vida das mulheres afetadas. Seu tratamento representa atualmente um desafio para o médico assistente que, apesar de estar mais atento ao seu diagnóstico, ainda não encontra evidências científicas para tratamento dessas pacientes. Ainda não é possível encontrar revisões sistemáticas ou metanálises pela heterogeneidade dos artigos. A abordagem multidisciplinar parece trazer melhores resultados. Habitualmente essas mulheres passam por vários especialistas à procura de alívio dos seus sintomas, na maioria das vezes sem sucesso. Este artigo objetiva fazer uma revisão atualizada do diagnóstico e tratamento da vulvodínia para orientar a prática clínica.(AU)

Vulvodynia is a vulvar discomfort and chronic condition that affects millions of women each year. It is a multifactorial syndrome with great impact on the quality of life of women affected by it. Its treatment is currently a challenge for the physician. Despite being closer to the diagnosis, scientific evidence for treating these patients has not yet been found. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis cannot be found due to the heterogeneity of the articles. A multidisciplinary approach seems to bring the best results. Usually these women consult several specialists seeking relief of their symptoms, most of the time without success. The aim of this article is to review the current diagnosis and treatment of vulvodynia to guide clinical practice.(AU)

Vulvodínia: diagnóstico, classificação e tratamento / Vulvodynia: diagnosis, classification and treatment

Vulvodínia é um desconforto vulgar crônico caracterizado pela queixa de ardência, prurido ou irritação, na ausência de achados específicos. O diagnóstico deve ser firmado por anamnese detalhada, ausência de causas infecciosas ou dermatológicas documentadas, e presença de dor em resposta a uma suave pressão sobre os lábios vaginais, intróito ou remanescentes himenais. Na anamnese, a dor relatada geralmente está presente durante e após a relação sexual. Outros fatores também podem estar envolvidos com o inicio do sintoma. Pressupostos afirmando que esta síndrome seria apenas um distúrbio psicológico estão sendo abandonados, pois mecanismos inflamatórios e fatores genéticos foram encontrados na patogênese da doença, alem dos fatores psicossexuais. Várias opções de tratamento têm sido utilizadas, embora as evidências para muitas destas terapias estejam incompletas. Pesquisas estão sendo realizadas no mundo todo com o objetivo de encontrar causas mais específicas e inequívocas desta patologia, bem como, para desenvolver métodos de tratamento baseados em evidenciais.

A Case of Vulvar Denervation Operation in an Old Patient with Intractable Dysesthetic Vulvodynia / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Vulvodynia is the term used to describe unexplained vulvar pain, sexual dysfunction, and the resultant psychological disability. In vulvar vestibulitis, surgery is carried out on patients who have failed conservative therapy. Surgical procedures which is removal of all sensitive vestibular tissue are most effective in patients with pure vestibulitis, but effective surgery is not known in patient with dysesthetic vulvodynia. We experienced one case of vulvar denervation operation in patients with intractable dysesthetic vulvodynia, which have failed conservative therapy. So we report one case with a brief review of literature.

Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Treatment Modalities about Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome: A study of 30 Cases / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate and introduce the clinicopathologic characteristics and treatment modalities of vulvar vestibulitis, a subset of vulvodynia, may cause physical disabilities, phycological or emotional distress, sexual dysfunction and limitation of daily activities. But its etiologies and treatments are not defined yet. We want to summarize the diagnostic methods and treatments patients of vulvar vestibulitis syndrome, could be easily overlooked in your offices. METHODS: This retrospective study was based on medical records including pathologic reports of 30 patients who underwent skin biopsy among the patients who were diagnosed as vulvar vestibulitis syndrome from August 1999 to February 2002 at Kyung-Hee University Medical Center. Skin biopsy was taken at a most painful area of vestibule in Dermatology Department to improve the accuracy of diagnosis. We evaluated the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients RESULTS: The mean age of these patients was 53.4+/-10.4 years and the mean parity was 3.13+/-1.4 times. The mean duration from symptom onset to diagnosis was 26.2+/-24.1 months. The skin biopsies showed chronic inflammation in 21 cases (70.0%), chronic inflammation with koilocytosis in 5 cases (16.7%), subacute inflammation in 3 cases (10.0%), and acute inflammation in 1 case (3.3%). The most predominant painful area is right posterior vestibular site and all patients felt pain on that site with swab test. There were 70% improvement among 30 patients with non-surgical modalities. CONCLUSION: Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome is a syndrome of severe pain, burning, stinging, irritative or raw sensation within the vestibular area by vestibular touch or attempted vaginal entry such as tampon use or intercourse. It also has vestibular redness, urge to urinate frequently or suddenly and is confirmed by history, moistened cotton-tipped swab test and gentian violet staining on the lesions. Its prevalence is 15% and it is frequently accompanied by physical disabilities, limitation of daily activities, sexual dysfunction and psychologic distress. Even though it could be seen frequently in our offices and has a tendency to become a chronic disease requiring long-term treatments, it has been being overlooked in offices due to lack of understanding of its etiologies, diagnostic criteria and treatments. Here we need more concerns and studies of vulvar vestibulitis syndrome.