A longitudinal case-control analysis of pain symptoms, fear of childbirth, and psychological well-being during pregnancy and postpartum among individuals with vulvodynia.

Objective: Little research has examined changes in chronic vulvar pain (vulvodynia) symptoms with pregnancy and childbirth, nor fear as it relates to pregnancy/delivery amongst individuals with vulvodynia. The purpose of this study was to examine change in pain symptoms from pregnancy to postpartum amongst women with vulvodynia, as well as pain anxiety, fear of childbirth, and anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Design: Prospective Case-Control Study.

Pain Characteristics, Psychosocial Wellbeing, and Sexual Wellbeing of Women Diagnosed With Provoked Vestibulodynia and a History of Sexual Abuse.

Objective: Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a common chronic pain condition characterized by pain at the vulvar vestibule elicited by touch. Both PVD and sexual abuse lead to negative psychosocial and sexual consequences. However, little is known about the wellbeing of women with PVD and a history of sexual abuse.

Dyspareunia in Their Own Words: A Qualitative Description of Endometriosis-Associated Sexual Pain.

Introduction: Dyspareunia has been called the neglected symptom of endometriosis and is underexplored in clinical and research contexts. Understanding the physical experience and patient-important aspects of endometriosis-associated sexual pain can help advance valid measurement of this symptom.

Aims: The goal of this research was to characterize the physical experience of endometriosis-associated dyspareunia in the words of people affected by this condition.

A Qualitative Exploration of Women's Experiences of Living With Chronic Vulvar Dermatoses.

Background: Many vulvar dermatoses (VDs) are chronic and cannot be "cured," thus affected women must learn to live with the impact of the disease, and its treatment, on their quality of life.

Aim: To qualitatively investigate the impact of VDs on women's quality of life through firsthand accounts.

Methods: 12 women, 7 with lichen sclerosus and 5 with erosive vulvovaginal lichen planus recruited from a vulvar disease clinic participated in in-depth, exploratory interviews.

Deep Dyspareunia, Superficial Dyspareunia, and Infertility Concerns Among Women With Endometriosis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Deep dyspareunia is a cardinal symptom of endometriosis, and as many as 40% of people with this condition experience comorbid superficial dyspareunia.

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between sexual pain and infertility concerns among women with endometriosis.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at a university-based tertiary center for endometriosis.

Phenotyping Sexual Pain in Endometriosis Using the Central Sensitization Inventory.

Introduction: Deep dyspareunia, a common symptom in endometriosis, has previously been associated with bladder and/or pelvic floor tenderness (BPFT), which suggests a role for central nervous system sensitization. The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI, 0-100) is a validated self-reported scale for patients with central sensitization.

Aim: The objective of this study was to phenotype deep dyspareunia using BPFT and the CSI.

A Comparison of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Vs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Provoked Vestibulodynia in a Hospital Clinic Setting.

Introduction: Chronic and distressing genito-pelvic pain associated with vaginal penetration is most frequently due to provoked vestibulodynia (PVD). Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) significantly reduces genital pain intensity and improves psychological and sexual well-being. In general chronic pain populations, mindfulness-based approaches may be as effective for improving pain intensity as CBT.

Provoked Vestibulodynia in Women with Pelvic Pain.

Introduction: Pelvic pain and vulvar pain are common conditions in women. In this study, we sought to characterize the clinical picture of patients with concurrent pelvic pain and provoked vestibulodynia (PVD).

Aim: To analyze the association between sexual/clinical characteristics and a diagnosis of PVD among women with pelvic pain.

Multidisciplinary Treatment for Provoked Vestibulodynia: Treatment Trajectories, Predictors, and Moderators of Sexual Distress and Pain.

Objectives: Multidisciplinary treatment programs for provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) are recommended, yet few have been evaluated. This study examined women's symptom trajectories over time, as well as baseline demographic, psychosocial and pain characteristics as predictors/ moderators of sexual pain and distress following treatment at a clinic using multidisciplinary concurrent methods. We also examined the impact of baseline variables on the probability of having low sexual distress scores following treatment.

Deep Dyspareunia in Endometriosis: Role of the Bladder and Pelvic Floor.

Introduction: The etiology of endometriosis-associated deep dyspareunia may include direct endometriosis-specific factors (eg, stage or invasiveness of disease) and/or indirect contributors such as bladder/pelvic floor dysfunction (eg, related to myofascial mechanisms or nervous system sensitization).

Aim: This study aimed to determine whether bladder/pelvic floor tenderness and painful bladder syndrome were associated with severity of deep dyspareunia in women with endometriosis, regardless of Stage (I/II vs III/IV) or other endometriosis-specific factors.

Methods: Observational study from a prospective patient registry (January 2014 to December 2016) at a tertiary centre for endometriosis.

Systematic Review of Treatment Outcome Measures for Vulvodynia.

Objectives Of The Study: To systematically evaluate the literature regarding vulvodynia treatment outcome measures.

Methods: A systematic literature search on OVID, PubMed, and PsycINFO databases was conducted from inception until May 2016. Studies were included/excluded based on prespecified criteria.

Antenatal Vulvar Pain Management, Labour Management, and Postpartum Care of Women With Vulvodynia: A Survey of Physicians and Midwives.

Objective: To examine maternity providers' recommendations for pregnant women with vulvodynia regarding management of vulvar pain and postpartum care, and to examine if, and how, a woman's chronic vulvar pain affects providers' examination and management during labour.

Methods: This research was part of a larger study that invited physicians and midwives to answer a questionnaire regarding pregnancy and childbirth care in women with vulvodynia. To achieve the current objectives, the questionnaire included both dichotomous (yes or no) and open-ended items.

Clinicians' Perspectives and Experiences Regarding Maternity Care in Women With Vulvodynia.

Objective: To assess clinicians' frequency of and comfort with provision of maternity care for women with vulvodynia, their beliefs and practices regarding delivery mode, and frequency of maternal requests for Caesarean section (CS).

Methods: We invited physicians and midwives to complete a questionnaire assessing their frequency of contact with pregnant women with vulvodynia; their level of comfort providing antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care for these women; whether they believed that vulvodynia is an indication for elective CS and the frequency of making this recommendation; and the number of patients with vulvodynia who strongly requested CS.

Results: Of the 140 participating clinicians, 91 were physicians and 49 were midwives.

The Impact of a Woman's Dyspareunia and Its Treatment on Her Intimate Partner: A Qualitative Analysis.

This study explored the experiences of male partners of women with dyspareunia, secondary to provoked vestibulodynia (PVD), who participated in the Multidisciplinary Vulvodynia Program (MVP). Participants were 16 men between 22 and 45 years of age. Data were collected with semi-structured interviews and analyzed for themes.

Examining perceived cancer risk among patients with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder in which patients are at significantly increased risk for developing malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) and malignant gliomas (brain cancer). We sought to develop a measure for assessing perceived risk of developing MPNST and brain cancer among patients with NF1 and to examine patients' perceived risk of developing these cancers. We assessed 112 NF1 patients' perceived risk of developing MPNST and brain cancer using an 8-item scale we developed that yielded two subscales in a principal component analysis (PCA).

Sexual health communication between cancer survivors and providers: how frequently does it occur and which providers are preferred?

Background: Sexual health concerns in cancer survivors are often unaddressed by providers. Study objectives were to assess cancer survivors' reported rates of communication with oncology providers about sexual health, preference for such communication with their oncology or primary care providers (PCPs), and factors associated with these communication rates and preferences.

Methods: Sixty-six patients attending a cancer survivorship clinic were asked how often their oncologist addressed and initiated discussion about sexual functioning and whether they wanted their oncologist or PCP to ask about their sexual health.

Impact of a multidisciplinary vulvodynia program on sexual functioning and dyspareunia.

Introduction: For many years, multidisciplinary approaches, which integrate psychological, physical, and medical treatments, have been shown to be effective for the treatment of chronic pain. To date, there has been anecdotal support, but little empirical data, to justify the application of this multidisciplinary approach toward the treatment of chronic sexual pain secondary to provoked vestibulodynia (PVD).

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate a 10-week hospital-based treatment (multidisciplinary vulvodynia program [MVP]) integrating psychological skills training, pelvic floor physiotherapy, and medical management on the primary outcomes of dyspareunia and sexual functioning, including distress.

Differential Associations of Communication and Love in Heterosexual, Lesbian, and Bisexual Women's Perceptions and Experiences of Chronic Vulvar and Pelvic Pain.

The literature on genital and pelvic pain has largely focused on heterosexual women. An online study examined characteristics of vulvar pain in 839 lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual women 18-45 years of age and investigated associations between relationship qualities such as love and communication with participants' perceptions of pain's influence on relationships. Characteristics of vulvar pain were similar across groups.

Sexual function, relationship adjustment, and the relational impact of pain in male partners of women with provoked vulvar pain.

Introduction: Despite the impact of provoked vulvar pain on women's sexuality and the partnered sexual context in which the pain typically occurs, partners have not been included widely in research.

Aims: To examine sexual and relationship functioning of male partners of women with provoked vulvar pain symptoms using a controlled design and to assess the impact of the pain on their relationship.

Methods: Fifty male pain partners and 56 male controls completed questionnaires to assess sexual communication, sexual functioning/satisfaction, sexual esteem, relationship adjustment, and psychological health.

A comparison of demographic and psychosexual characteristics of women with primary versus secondary provoked vestibulodynia.

Objectives: Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a distressing genital pain condition affecting approximately 12% of premenopausal women. It has been speculated that primary (ie, lifelong) and secondary (ie, acquired) PVD may represent 2 distinct conditions with different etiologies. There is also evidence that primary and secondary PVD subtypes may respond differently to conventional treatments.

Appearance concerns among women with neurofibromatosis: examining sexual/bodily and social self-consciousness.

Objective: Neurofibromatosis (NF) 1 and 2 have distinct appearance effects, yet little research has examined patients' appearance concerns. We assessed appearance concerns and self-consciousness, self-esteem, and loneliness among women with NF.

Methods: Women with NF1 (n = 79) and NF2 (n = 48) completed the Derriford Appearance Scale to assess appearance concerns and sexual/bodily and social self-consciousness, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and UCLA Loneliness Scale.

Sexual and relationship satisfaction and vestibular pain sensitivity among women with provoked vestibulodynia.

Introduction: Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a common cause of painful intercourse. Despite the fact that PVD is associated with high levels of pain and negative impact on women's sexuality, research has not examined associations between affected women's pain sensitivity and their sexual and relationship satisfaction.

Aims: This study aimed to examine sexual and relationship functioning/satisfaction and vestibular pain sensitivity among PVD-affected women, and potential associations between these variables.

Emotional functioning of patients with neurofibromatosis tumor suppressor syndrome.

Purpose: Although patients with neurofibromatosis are predisposed to multiple nerve sheath tumors that can develop anywhere in the body and cause significant morbidity (e.g., hearing loss; pain), little research has examined emotional correlates of neurofibromatosis.

Pilot study of radical hysterectomy versus radical trachelectomy on sexual distress.

Radical trachelectomy, which leaves the uterus intact, has emerged as a desirable surgical option for eligible women with early-stage cervical cancer who wish to preserve fertility. The available data suggest excellent obstetrical outcomes with radical trachelectomy, and no differences in sexual responding between radical trachelectomy and radical hysterectomy. There is a need to examine the effect of radical hysterectomy on sexual distress given that it is distinct from sexual function.