Extract

Introduction

Vulvodynia is a major health concern for women of all ages. Research has shown that vulvodynia can adversely affect women’s psychosocial well-being and disrupt all aspects of sexual function. Despite significant advances in the field of vulvodynia, clitorodynia – a localized subtype of vulvodynia - is still under-diagnosed and poorly understood.

Objectives

The research project aims to gain information on clitoral pain characteristics, and to identify clinical pathologies as possible contributors to clitorodynia. In addition, the research project evaluates the impact of clitorodynia on women’s sexual and psychosocial well-being.

Methods

In total 30 women with clitorodynia and 30 age-matched pain-free women will be recruited. A structured gynaecological examination with vulvoscopy is performed, in addition to a thorough digital evaluation of pelvic floor muscles. Next, participants complete a questionnaire on medical and pain history, a 0-10 pain numerical rating scale, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Trait Subscale (STAI), the Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSIS), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and the Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI). In addition, women with clitorodynia have a pelvic and clitoral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

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