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Impact of Vulvodynia on the Quality of Life of Women: A Rapid Review

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Vulvodynia is a chronic vulvar pain syndrome with multifactorial etiology and unclear pathophysiology. Despite its high prevalence, it remains underdiagnosed and under-researched, with significant repercussions for women’s physical, psychological, and social well-being. Objective: To synthesize the available scientific evidence on quality of life (QoL) in women diagnosed with vulvodynia, identifying the main affected domains and the assessment tools used in the literature. Methods: A rapid review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 and Cochrane Rapid Reviews guidelines. Searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, Biblioteca Virtual en Salud, and CUIDEN without date or geographic restrictions. Studies including adult women diagnosed with vulvodynia and reporting QoL outcomes were eligible. Data was extracted and synthesized narratively, and methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Results: Twenty studies published between 2006 and 2025 met the inclusion criteria (13 quantitative and 7 qualitative). Vulvodynia was consistently associated with reduced QoL across physical, psychological, and social dimensions. The most frequently reported issues were chronic vulvar pain, sexual dysfunction, anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal. Tools such as SF-12, SF-36, WHOQOL-BREF, DLQI, Skindex-29, and SQLQ-F were commonly used, although heterogeneity among instruments limited comparability. Multidisciplinary interventions combining physiotherapy and psychological therapy showed improvements in emotional and physical well-being, though sexual dysfunction often persisted. Conclusions: Vulvodynia substantially impairs women’s quality of life, reflecting complex biopsychosocial interactions. The findings highlight the need for standardized QoL measures and gender-sensitive, multidisciplinary approaches to diagnosis, management, and research.

Source: Journal of Clinical Medicine

DOI: 10.3390/jcm15010070

Authors: María Fernanda Callirgos Escajadillo, Marina Gómez de Quero Córdoba, Marta Garrigues-Ramón, Sagrario Gómez-Cantarino, Adolfo Romero-Arana, Elena Arroyo-Bello