Role of Vulvar Care Guidelines in the Initial Management of Vulvar Complaints

• DOI: 10.1097/lgt.0b013e318232fd9a
• Publication Date: 2012-01-06T12:32:18Z
• Authors: Yulia Marie Lifit...; Yelena Podorozhansky; Susan Hoffstetter; Jeffrey A. Gavard
• Keywords: Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Adolescent; Guidelines as Topic; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; Treatment Outcome; 0302 clinical medicine; Behavior Therapy; Humans; Female; Aged

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of vulvar care guidelines as the initial treatment of vulvar complaints.A chart review was conducted at the Saint Louis University Vulvar and Vaginal Disease Center. Women with vulvar symptoms in the absence of specific identifiable causes were evaluated and given guidelines for vulvar care. An 11-point Likert scale was used to rate symptoms at the initial and follow-up visits. Compliance level was determined.A decrease in mean scores was shown for dyspareunia (7.5 ± 2.0 to 4.6 ± 3.1, p < .001), burning after intercourse (6.8 ± 2.7 to 3.4 ± 2.4, p = .10), vulvar burning (5.7 ± 2.6 to 2.1 ± 1.9, p < .001), vulvar itching (4.9 ± 2.8 to 2.5 ± 2.6, p < .001), and vulvar pain (5.8 ± 2.8 to 2.2 ± 3.0, p < .01). The mean dyspareunia difference scores were significant between the low- and high-compliance groups.Vulvar care guidelines are successful for the management of vulvar complaints.