A case report of successful team approach treatment of provoked vulvodynia

  • Gabrijela Simetinger Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General Hospital Novo mesto, Smihelska cesta 1, 8000 Novo mesto, Slovenia
  • Darija Šćepanović Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology University Medical centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Keywords: provoked vulvodynia, sexual medicine, biopsychosocial model, team approach, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Vulvodynia has been defined as vulvar discomfort, most often described as burning pain, occurring in the absence of relevant findings or a specific, clinically identifiable, neurologic disorder. Vulvodynia is a genital syndrome of multi-causal origin and requires a team approach. The purpose of the case report of provoked vulvodynia is to show the efficacy of individualized, multifaceted and multidisciplinary therapeutic team approach used by a gynaecologist with special knowledge of sexology and a physiotherapist specialising in treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction. Case report: A 35-year old patient presented with a complaint of genital itching and consequently burning pain which first occurred during sexual intercourse one year previously. Afterwards a gynaecologist with special knowledge of sexology performed a biopsychosocial assessment, broader gynaecological examination and psychoeducation. Diagnosed was provoked vulvodynia. Than she was assessed by the physiotherapist specialising in treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction and treated with TENS. To assess the effectiveness of treatment were used Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire and the visual analogue scale before and after the team approach treatment. Conclusions: In our case individualized, multifaceted and multidisciplinary therapeutic approach proved to be a good choice for treating genital syndrome of provoked vulvodynia of multi-causal origin.

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Author Biographies

Gabrijela Simetinger, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General Hospital Novo mesto, Smihelska cesta 1, 8000 Novo mesto, Slovenia

Gabrijela Simetinger, MD, Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, FECSM (Fellow of the European Committee of Sexual Medicine),

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General Hospital Novo mesto, Smihelska cesta 1, 8000 Novo mesto, Slovenia,

Tel. 031 886 755, E-mail: gabrijela.simetinger@siol.net.

Darija Šćepanović, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology University Medical centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Darija Šćepanović, MSc, Physioterapist,

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
University Medical centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

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Published
2015-10-19
How to Cite
1.
Simetinger G, Šćepanović D. A case report of successful team approach treatment of provoked vulvodynia. TEST ZdravVestn [Internet]. 19Oct.2015 [cited 6May2024];84(10). Available from: http://vestnik-dev.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/1210
Section
Case report, short scientific article