PARENT SESSION

Room 524-A

Female - Sexual Dysfunction Wednesday, July 13, 2005 Time: 8:30 AM-10:30 AM

Vulvodynia: A Multidisciplinary Theoretical, Empirical, and Clinical Perspective.

Pukall, Caroline^*,1, Binik, Yitzchak ^{*,2, 2}, Bergeron, Sophie^{*,3, 3}, Flory, Nicole^*,, ¹ Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada² McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada³ McGill University Health Center (Royal Victoria Hospital), Montreal, Quebec, Canada

ABSTRACT- Topic and rationale: Vulvodynia, defined as burning vulvar pain, is a highly prevalent complaint, affecting up to 16% of women in the general population. Despite the significant consequences of vulvodynia on sexuality, psychological functioning, and quality of life, little is known about its etiology and its diagnosis is one of exclusion. Health care professionals faced with affected women are often at a loss regarding how to reduce the pain and resolve concomitant sexual dysfunction when typical medical treatments fail. The purpose of this workshop is to inform the audience of current theoretical, empirical, and clinical advances in the study and treatment of vulvodynia, and to promote a multidisciplinary approach to its investigation and management. Objectives: 1) To provide the audience with a theoretical background on current conceptualizations of vulvodynia; 2) to introduce a multidisciplinary pain approach to its study and treatment; 3) to impart empirical findings using this approach; 4) to present results of a randomized treatment outcome study; and 4) to demonstrate the effects of hysterectomy on genital and pelvic pain. Session outline: The session will be organized by Caroline Pukall, who will welcome the audience, introduce the speakers, and manage questions, comments, and the discussion. The first speaker, Yitzchak Binik, will present current conceptualizations of vulvodynia. The second speaker, Caroline Pukall, will present research emphasizing the importance of pain measurement in women with a common form of vulvodynia, vulvar vestibulitis syndrome. The third speaker, Sophie Bergeron, will present results of an ongoing randomized treatment outcome study in women with vulvar vestibulitis. The final speaker, Nicole Flory, will present research demonstrating the effects of hysterectomy on genital and pelvic pain. Session methodology: A brief overview of the session will be provided, followed by 4 presentations, each lasting 20 minutes. After each presentation, there will be 5-10 minutes for questions. Any remaining time will be devoted to discussion. Relevance of the session to sexology: This session will add to the backgrounds of audience members the multidisciplinary pain perspective of vulvodynia. It will help them broaden their conceptualization of vulvar pain and allow them to gain a better understanding of how to best classify, study, and treat this common but misunderstood sexual health problem affecting women. In addition, as the session will emphasize current and novel research in the area of vulvodynia, it will be of great value to researchers in the field of gynecology, pain, and sexuality. Description of the audience: This session is directed to health care professionals (e.g., physicians, gynecologists, urologists, physiotherapists, psychologists, psychiatrists) and researchers with an interest in vulvar pain and/or dyspareunia. Roles and qualifications: Caroline Pukall will chair the session, introduce the speakers, and manage the questions and comments. Yitzchak Binik, Caroline Pukall, Sophie Bergeron, and Nicole Flory will each speak for 20 minutes and respond to questions specific to their area of expertise. Drs. Binik, Bergeron, and Pukall have a PhD in Psychology, hold academic positions, and have been clinically trained in the area of sexual dysfunction and couple therapy. Nicole Flory holds a MA in Psychology and is currently a PhD Candidate in the Department of Psychology at McGill University.

Key words: vulvodynia, vulvar vestibulitis, treatment outcome, reclassification, pain measurement