CIHR Funding
Information on the vulvodynia-related studies funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) follows. For more information on CIHR funding, click here.
Please click on the study titles below for additional information on the CIHR-funded studies conducted to date.
Melanie Morin PT, PhD Dry Needling Physiotherapy for Provoked Vestibulodynia: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility and Acceptability Study (2023-2024)
Sophie Bergeron, PhD (left), & Natalie Ora Rosen, PhD (right)A comparison of cognitive-behavioral couple therapy and lidocaine in the treatment of provoked vestibulodynia: A randomized clinical trial (2004-2013)
Irving M. Yitzchak Binik, PhDSexual pain is not that sexy: A multidimensional but pain focused model (1999-2011)
Stephanie Camille Boyer, B.Sc.The Pathophysiology of Chronic Genital Pain: Differentiating Between Vaginismus and PVD (2009-2011)
Lori Anne Brotto, PhDIntegrated Mindfulness-based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy versus Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Provoked Vestibulodynia (2012-2013)
Seth Davis, PhDA gender and dyadic based analysis of chronic genital pain in men and women (2012-2013)
Caroline Pukall, PhDInvestigating vulvodynia Subtypes from a multidimensional pain perspective (2006-2013)
Neuropathic pain characteristics in women with vulvodynia (2005-2013)
Natalie Rosen, PhDUsing a daily diary approach to examine spouse responses to pain and well behaviors in women with provoked vestibulodynia (2010-2013)
Emma Dargie, MSc, PhD candidateWomen in Pain: Exploring the Neuropathic Components of Vulvodynia to Improve Diagnosis and Treatment (2011-2014)
Robyn Jackowich, MS (Candidate) Impact of genital pain on the psychological and sexual well-being of Canadian young women aged 12-19. (2013)
Kim Fisher, PhD Pain profiles of women with unexplained chronic vulvar pain. (2003-2005)
The research team recruited twenty-two women with unexplained chronic vulvar pain and 20 women completed the study. Twice, each woman underwent a comprehensive, standard evaluation with a multidimensional inventory of tests developed by the investigators. The women were assessed by one of the two gynecologists during the first visit and then by the alternate gynecologist during the second visit.
Components of the inventory of tests were then used to characterize the women’s chronic vulvar pain according to five dimensions that are commonly used to differentiate between VVS and DV. These dimensions included: localized vs. diffuse pain; intermittent vs. continuous pain; evoked vs. spontaneous pain; degree of erythema; and vestibular pain threshold.
Moderate test-retest reliability of inventory items and moderate correspondence between the gynecologists’ examinations were observed for most of the variables. However the majority of women in this sample did not fit within one of the two diagnostic groups based on the five dimensions that were assessed. The findings from this study suggest that there is considerable overlap in the characteristics of pain experienced by women with unexplained chronic vulvar pain. Further research is needed using standardized, validated assessment procedure to inform the development of a classification system that improves pain management.