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Gloria Bachmann, MD
Robert Wood Johnson (UMDNJ)
Vulvodynia Prevalence And Efficacy Of 4 Interventions
Abstract: Vulvodynia is a complex, multi-factorial chronic pain
syndrome which is associated with significant distress and interpersonal.
Vulvar vestibulitis and dyspareunia are two common, although not
well-understood clinical components or sub-types of vulvodynia.
Chronic vulvar pain is experienced by, according to recent surveys,
about 10-15% of the female population between 18 and 80. Pathophysiologic
findings have not been convincing for the role of any specific antibody
or etiological mechanism, although several have been proposed including
aberrant somatosensory processing in the peripheral or central inflammatory
process. The epidemiology and predictors of vulvodynia have similarly
not been well- articulated in the literature. One study suggested
that the disorder may be largely limited to white, middle-aged women,
although sampling and data gathering limitations cloud the assessment
of these findings. Thirdly, many centers have begun emphasizing
surgical treatments for vulvar vestibulitis, although these approach
is rejected by about 1/3 of women at the outset. The vestibulectomy
procedure also leads to definite worsening of the condition in about
10% of cases. This grant will propose to examine efficacy, outcomes
and cost-effectiveness associated with four non-surgical interventions
for vulvodynia. In general, the women's Health Research Section
of RWJMS is committed to offering minimally- invasive services and
treatments to a broad diversity of women in the central northeast
region. Our previous experience and that of our Co-PI's make our
site uniquely well-prepared to offer a broad range of dissemination
and educational experiences, both locally and nationally, in the
final years of the grant cycle. We plan to arrange and host an international
consensus conference (something we have done twice recently in other
areas of relevance), and to disseminate findings obtained from this
and similar conferences broadly. We will also disseminate any questionnaires
and treatment manuals developed in the context of this grant via
website or other appropriate electronic or non-electronic form.
We will develop patient education and public information materials,
which will also be distributed in the most accessible and least
costly form. Our ultimate goal is to share findings from this and
related research with the broadest cross-spectrum of women that
we can.
back to NIH Funding
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