Psychosocial and sexual functioning in women with vulvodynia and chronic pelvic pain. A comparative evaluation.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether women with vulvodynia differ from women with chronic pelvic pain and normal controls in their psychological functioning, somatic preoccupation, pain experience and sexual functioning.

STUDY

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, self-report study of women presenting to University of Michigan specialty and general clinics for the treatment of vulvodynia or chronic pelvic pain or seeking a routine gynecologic examination. All subjects completed questionnaires assessing demographic characteristics, pain, depressive symptoms, general affective state, marital adjustment, functional activity, somatic complaints, exposures, and medical and sexual history. Univariate analyses, chi 2 tests, analyses of variance and logistic regression were used to assess associations between these variables and the diagnostic category.

RESULTS

Women with vulvodynia (n = 31) were similar to asymptomatic control women (n = 23) in demographic characteristics, sexual relationship variables, sexual behaviors, current and past depression, somatic sensitivity, and history of sexual or physical abuse. Women with chronic pelvic pain (n = 18) were younger and less educated than the other two groups and were more likely to have a history of physical and sexual abuse, to report recent depression and to screen positive for current depression, to have more work absences and to have more somatic complaints.

CONCLUSION

Women with vulvodynia are psychologically similar to control women but differ significantly from women with chronic pelvic pain. A primary psychological cause of vulvodynia is not supported.