Is it vulvar vestibulitis?

Article

Diagnosing and treating women with vulvar vestibulitis can sometimes seem more art than science. Here an expert reviews the available evidence and describes his approach.

A few words about terminology

What is vulvar vestibulitis syndrome?

VVS is a condition whose primary hall-mark is dyspareunia with intromission. Although exact data on the prevalence of VVS in the general population remain scarce, certain studies suggest that it's a common condition. In a mail and telephone survey of 4,915 Boston-area women, Harlow and colleagues found that 16% of surveyed women reported a history of chronic knifelike or excessive pain on contact with the genital area lasting for at least 3 months or longer, and 7% were experiencing it at the time of the survey.3 Similarly, we've found VVS in up to 15% of patients referred to a tertiary care center for evaluation of chronic vaginal and vulvar symptoms.4 These studies suggest that VVS is a fairly common cause of vulvar pain.

Newsletter

Get the latest clinical updates, case studies, and expert commentary in obstetric and gynecologic care. Sign up now to stay informed.

Recent Videos
Neal Barnard, MD, FACC, highlights AMA's new breast cancer prevention guidelines | Image Credit: pcrm.org.
Zachary Wagner, PhD, discusses the harms of bias in reproductive care | Image Credit: ornsife.usc.edu.
Ciera Kirkpatrick, PhD, shows how TikTok is transforming cervical cancer awareness | Image Credit: linkedin.com.
Maria Gallo, PhD, discusses high attendance at crisis pregnancy centers | Image Credit: © x.com.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.