The journal of sexual medicine
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Female genital mutilation (FGM), the partial or total removal of the external genitalia for non-medical reasons, can affect female sexuality. However, only few studies are available, and these have significant methodologic limitations. ⋯ Women with FGM have sexual erectile tissues for sexual arousal, orgasm, and pleasure. Women with sexual dysfunction should be appropriately counseled and treated.
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The lifetime prevalence of women suffering from provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is estimated to be approximately 15%. The etiology of PVD is not yet clear. Recent studies approach PVD as a chronic multifactorial sexual pain disorder. PVD is associated with pain syndromes, genital infections, and mental disorders, which are common diseases in family practice. PVD, however, is not included in the International Classification of Primary Care. Hence, the vulvovaginal symptoms, which could be suggestive of PVD, are likely to be missed. ⋯ Data from daily family practice showed a clear relationship between symptoms suggestive of PVD and the diagnoses of vulvovaginal candidiasis and IBS in premenopausal women. Possibly, family doctors make a diagnosis of vulvovaginal candidiasis or IBS based only on clinical manifestations in many women in whom a diagnosis of PVD would be more appropriate.