eSense-Vulvodynia

Strong evidence supports the use of mindfulness and cognitive behavioral techniques (CBT) for increasing women’s satisfaction with sexual relationships. Both mindfulness and CBT are the basis for eSense, a self-guiding online program that has produced positive results in women lacking sexual desire or experiencing distress in their sexual relationships. The program is a combination of text, audio and video, and includes patient stories and practical exercises.

In 2025, Lori Brotto, PhD, a longtime advocate in women’s sexual health at the University of British Columbia, proposed adapting eSense for women with vulvodynia. Since eSense is a complementary therapy that is user-friendly and available at home, NVA’s board of directors awarded a modest grant for Dr Brotto to modify eSense. She has asked a group of women with Provoked Vestibulodynia (PVD) to describe their most concerning sexual issues. The next step is to identify and adapt the sections of eSense that can be most useful to this group of women.

Once the eSense-Vulvodynia program is developed, Dr. Brotto will test its feasibility in 30 PVD patients. We expect to have her results by early 2027.

(Editor’s note: If you are interested in the original version of eSense, you can access it at: https://esensehealth.com/.