Multilevel local anesthetic nerve blockade for the treatment of vulvar vestibulitis syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome is a major cause of dyspareunia. This pilot study was designed to evaluate a novel treatment approach.

STUDY

DESIGN

This is a prospective study of 27 women with vulvar vestibulitis. The protocol included 5 treatment sessions with caudal epidural, pudendal nerve block, and vestibular infiltration of local anesthetic agents.

RESULTS

There were significant improvements in vestibular pain as determined by the vulvalgesiometer, McGill pain questionnaire, self-report, and the Female Sexual Functioning Inventory.

CONCLUSION

Serial multilevel nerve blocks administered for the treatment of vulvar vestibulitis is a conceptually neurophysiologically based modality that may be effective and merits a placebo-controlled study.