What is vestibulitis?

Objectives:

To investigate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in patients with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome by using a recently developed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer set that detects known papillomavirus types.

Study Design:

We retrospectively identified 38 patients with vulvar vestibulitis who underwent therapeutic surgical excision of the vestibule. Eleven controls without vestibulitis who underwent vestibular excision for conditions unrelated to HPV infection were identified prospectively. Surgical specimens were examined for the presence of HPV DNA by PCR amplification. DNA se quencing was used to determine HPV type.

Results:

The prevalence of HPV among patients with vestibulitis was 21% vs. 36% among controls. Group B HPV types accounted for 4 of the 10 (40%) HPV types found in patients with vestibulitis. Overall, in both patient and control samples, a spectrum of HPV types was identified, encompassing many branches of the HPV phylogenetic tree. No etiologic association was apparent.

Conclusion:

This study did not support an association of HPV with vulvar vestibulitis. The low rate of observed infection in women with and without vestibulitis and the diversity of HPV types identified suggest incidental virus carriage rather than direct cause and effect. The underlying cause of this debilitating condition remains unknown.

Related Medical Abstracts - Click on the paper title:-

• Multilevel local anesthetic nerve blockade for the treatment of vulvar vestibulitis syndrome.(2008-01)
• Effects of Sexual Arousal on Genital and Non-Genital Sensation: A Comparison of Women with Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome and Healthy Controls. (2006-01)
• Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome. (2006-02)
• Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome: an important factor in the evaluation of lifelong vaginismus? (2005-01)
• Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome: An often unrecognized cause of dyspareunia. (1999)
• Vulvodynia caused by the vulvar vestibulitis syndrome. (1997)
• Vulvar vestibulitis. Subgroup with Bartholin gland duct inflammation. (1989)

Please click on the required question.

• 1 What skin conditions may affect the vulva?
• 2 Which viral infections can affect the genitalia?
• 3 What problems can occur to people with herpes simplex?
• 4 What are genital warts?
• 5 What is lichen sclerosus?
• 6 How is lichen sclerosus treated?
• 7 What could be causing my vulval irritation?
• 8 How could my vulval irritation be treated?
• 9 What is a Bartholin's cyst / abscess?
• 10 How is a Bartholin's cyst / abscess treated?
• 11 What is vulvodynia?
• 12 How can my vulvodynia be treated?
• 13 What is vestibulitis?
• 14 How can my vestibulitis be treated?
• 15 Where can I obtain further information?
• 16 Support Groups.

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This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.

I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided. If you still have unanswered questions, please consider entering them into one of our forums and I will try to assist you.