Accepted 15 June 2008. published online 21 November 2008.
Background
The experiences of women with vulvodynia are poorly understood.
Objective
We sought to determine the effects of vulvodynia on quality of life.
Methods
We conducted a survey of 280 patients in a university-based vulvar disorders clinic. Skin-related quality of life was measured with a vulvar-specific version of Skindex-29.
Results
The response rate was 95%; 101 patients (36%) had vulvodynia, and 179 patients (64%) had other vulvar conditions. Women with vulvodynia had significantly worse quality of life than patients with many other dermatologic conditions, and worse functioning than women with other vulvar conditions (mean functioning scores [±SD] of patients with psoriasis, other vulvar conditions, and vulvodynia were 23 ± 27, 34 ± 24, and 44 ± 22, respectively, P = .05). A diagnosis of vulvodynia was the strongest independent correlate of poor quality of life (eg, for poor functioning, odds ratio = 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.0-3.1).
Limitations
Limitations are single academic medical center and comorbid illnesses determined by self-report.
Conclusion
Vulvodynia has broad and substantial effects on quality of life.
aSchool of Medicine, University of California–San Francisco, San Francisco, California
bDepartment of Dermatology, University of California–San Francisco, San Francisco, California
cDepartment of Medicine, University of California–San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Reprint requests: Mary-Margaret Chren, MD, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 4150 Clement St, 151R, San Francisco, CA 94121.
Supported an Independent Scientist Award (K02 AR 02203) and a Midcareer Investigator Award (K24-AR052667) to Dr Chren from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health.
Conflicts of interest: None declared.
Presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the American DermatoEpidemiology Network in Los Angeles, CA, on May 12, 2007.
ABSTRACT