Vulvodynia and Chronic Vulvar Pain: Influencing Factors and Long-Term Success After Therapeutic Local Anesthesia (TLA)

The long-term success of TLA supports the hypothesis that neuralgia of one or more nerves of the pelvic floor is an important component in the development of vulvodynia. This study provides evidence for the long-term effectiveness of TLA in women with vulvodynia, as well as potential obstacles to healing. Despite limitations imposed by a monocentric, non-controlled observational design, the robustness of this investigation lies in the long observation period after treatment and the substantial percentage of patients for whom TLA was successful. The long-term results emphasize the necessity of a holistic approach integrating the view of vulvodynia as a peripheral neuro-functional disorder.