Study for Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain

[NatVulvAssoc]

Treatment Study for Women with Vaginal Discomfort or Pain with Intercourse

If you are a woman (age 21 or older) who suffers from vulvo-vaginal discomfort/pain or pain with intercourse, you may be eligible to participate in a study that tracks women as they receive medical treatment to determine how effective that treatment is, as well as the factors that can predict treatment success.

One in four women of all ages and ethnicities suffer from vulvodynia over the course of their lives. Because the condition is rarely discussed and many doctors don’t know about it, many women feel alone and isolated, unaware that help is available for them! Women with vulvodynia experience discomfort/pain (burning, stinging, raw, sharp, knife-like) in the vulva (the genital area surrounding the opening of the vagina), as well as discomfort/pain with intercourse, tampon insertion or simply sitting. They oftentimes suffer from other pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, painful bladder syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome and temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

The National Vulvodynia Treatment Outcomes Registry is the first national multi-site study investigating the effectiveness of therapies used to treat vulvodynia. Over the next seven months, women age 21 and older will be able to participate in this important study. Registry investigators collect a wealth of neurological, infectious, immunological and genetic data from participants at several time points after initiating treatment - all of which will be correlated to the effectiveness of different vulvodynia therapies. This study will not only lead to the identification of factors that can predict treatment effectiveness, but will help us understand the underlying mechanisms associated with different vulvodynia subtypes. Participation is voluntary, does not include any experimentation, does not change women's treatment recommendations, and does not provide free medical care.

Registry sites are currently located in: Arkansas (Little Rock), California (Los Angeles), Colorado (Denver), Florida (Orlando), Maryland (Annapolis), Ohio (Akron) and Washington DC.

To participate or for more information, please contact Registry Coordinator Ms. Katy Capote by phone (407-303-2721) or e-mail (katerina.capote@flhosp.org).