Vulvodynia and HIV: causal or casual association?

BACKGROUND

No study exists on HIV and vulvodynia.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate vulvodynia in HIV infected women and its possible association with HIV.

DESIGN

Cross sectional study.

SETTING

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Turin.

METHODS

235 HIV positive and 272 HIV negative women were studied for vulvar pain between June 1995 and January 1997. Diagnosis of vulvodynia was based on clinical history, dermatological and vulvovaginal examination, and bacteriology. Colposcopy and vulvar biopsy were performed and psychometric examination was done.

RESULTS

Vulvodynia was diagnosed in five women with HIV and in one uninfected woman (odds ratio = 2.5; 95% confidence interval: 0.1-62.6). High neuroticism scores were observed in women with history of vulvar pain, the highest in HIV infected vulvodynia patients (p = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONS

Confirming the association of gynaecological pain with neurotic personality, our study suggests causal link between HIV and vulvodynia.