Genitourinary Pain, Sexual Distress, and Quality of Sexual Life in Women with and without Vulvodynia

Abstract Introduction Vulvodynia is a serious public health problem. However, current studies that consider the sexual life of women with vulvodynia are very limited. This study aimed to determine genitourinary pain, sexual distress, and quality of sexual life of women with and without vulvodynia. Methods This is a descriptive, correlational, comparative study. This study was conducted with 220 women with and without vulvodynia who presented to the gynecology outpatient clinic of a Training and Research Hospital between January 2023 and May 2023. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Female Genitourinary Pain Index, the Female Sexual Distress Scale, and the Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire-Female. Results Women with vulvodynia experienced more genitourinary pain discomfort, especially in the sub-dimensions of pain and discomfort, and their quality of life was lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). Women with vulvodynia experienced more sexual distress and had lower quality of sexual life than those without (p < 0.05). In addition, women with vulvodynia felt more pain during gynecological examination, avoided sexual intercourse, felt more pain or burning during sexual intercourse, and experienced more fear of pain during sexual intercourse compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions Women with vulvodynia experienced more genitourinary pain and sexual distress and had lower quality of sexual life compared to the control group. Policy Implications Supporting women with vulvodynia who have chronic vulvar pain via cognitive-behavioral couple-based interventions may be useful in reducing sexual distress and improving the quality of sexual life.