Objectives-To explore the prevalence of Orofacial Pain (OFP) among patients with Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome (VVS) and to examine the relationship between signs and symptoms of OFP and clinical characteristics of women with VVS; we specifically sought to investigate differences in psychological characteristics and self-reported severity of painful intercourse.Methods-In this cross-sectional exploratory study, 137 women with VVS completed questionnaires that assessed self-reported levels of pain, anxiety, somatization, and presence of signs and symptoms suggestive of clinical and sub-clinical OFP. Demographic data were gathered from medical records.
Results-OrofacialPain was found to be a highly prevalent (78%) condition among women with VVS. Compared to women with no OFP symptoms (n=30), those with symptoms (n=64) had higher levels of anxiety (45.0 vs. 37.8, Bonferroni adjusted p=0.017), somatization (125.2 vs. 96.0, Bonferroni adjusted p<0.001), and psychological distress (62.8 vs. 56.0, Bonferroni adjusted p=0.002). While we observed a similar trend among women with sub-clinical OFP (n=43), this trend only reached statistical significance with respect to somatization. Differences were not detected for demographics, duration of pain, and severity of pain during intercourse across the three groups.Discussion-Orofacial Pain is a common condition among women with VVS. Because severity and duration of painful intercourse did not differ by OFP classification but psychological characteristics did, we must begin to question a uni-dimensional focus on vestibular mucosa as a reason for pain and persistent distress.
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