• Bernard L Harlow, Christine G Kunitz, Ruby H N Nguyen, Sarah A Rydell, Rachel M Turner, and Richard F MacLehose.
• Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
• Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2014 Jan 1; 210 (1): 40.e1-8.

ObjectiveWe 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 DesignWe 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.ResultsBy 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.ConclusionUsing 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.Copyright © 2014 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

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