Bladder and bowel symptoms among women with vulvar disease: are they universal?

OBJECTIVE

To compare the prevalence of painful bladder syndrome, recurrent urinary tract infections, urinary leakage and irritable bowel syndrome between women with specific vulvar disorders and controls.

STUDY

DESIGN

Women with a primary diagnosis of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (dysplasia), vulvar vestibulitis (vestibulitis), contact vulvitis, atrophic vulvovaginitis, lichen simplex, lichen sclerosus and lichen planus, were compared to women presenting for annual examinations.

RESULTS

As compared to controls, painful bladder syndrome was more prevalent among subjects with dysplasia, vestibulitis and contact vulvitis; a history of recurrent urinary tract infection was more prevalent among subjects with contact vulvitis; and urinary incontinence was less prevalent in subjects with lichen sclerosus. Irritable bowel syndrome was more prevalent among subjects with dysplasia, vestibulitis, lichen sclerosus, lichen planus and lichen simplex than controls.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of bladder and irritable bowel symptoms varies between vulvar disorders.