- 作者：Bernard L. Harlow ; Christine G. Kunitz ; Ruby H.N. Nguyen ; Sarah A. Rydell ; Rachel M. Turner ; Richard F. MacLehose
- 关键词：ethnic groups ; health services accessibility ; prevalence ; vulvodynia
- 刊名：American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- 出版年：January, 2014
- 年：2014
- 卷：210
- 期：1
- 页码：40.e1-40.e8
- 全文大小：301 K
Objective
We used validated sensitive and specific questions associated with clinically confirmed diagnoses of unexplained vulvar pain (vulvodynia) to compare the cumulative incidence of vulvar pain and prevalence of care-seeking behavior in Boston metropolitan area (BMA) and in Minneapolis/Saint Paul metropolitan area (MSP) from 2001 through 2005 using census-based data, and 2010 through 2012, using outpatient community-clinic data, respectively.Study Design
We received self-administered questionnaires from 5440 women in BMA and 13,681 in MSP, 18-40 years of age, describing their history of vulvar burning or pain on contact that persisted >3 months that limited/prevented intercourse.
Results
By age 40 years, 7-8% in BMA and MSP reported vulvar pain consistent with vulvodynia. Women of Hispanic origin compared to whites were 1.4 times more likely to develop vulvar pain symptoms (95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.8). Many women in MSP (48%) and BMA (30%) never sought treatment, and >50% who sought care with known health care access received no diagnosis.
Conclusion
Using identical screening methods, we report high prevalence of vulvar pain in 2 geographic regions, and that access to health care does not increase the likelihood of seeking care for chronic vulvar pain.