Pregnancy, Childbirth Intentions and Outcomes Under Sexual Pain

University of British Columbia241 enrolled

Overview

The main purpose of this study is to assess conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and pain experiences among women who have been diagnosed with vulvodynia. Specifically, this study aims to examine the following among women who have been diagnosed with vulvodynia: 1) rates of pregnancy/childbirth and desire for children; 2) fear of pregnancy and childbirth; 3) potential difficulties experienced while attempting to become pregnant and during pregnancy/childbirth; 4) methods used to become pregnant and deliver; 5) methods used to manage vulvodynia symptoms during pregnancy; and 6) pain outcomes associated with pregnancy. Very little research has examined pregnancy/childbirth experiences among women with vulvodynia, or the natural history of vulvodynia. As such this is a preliminary investigation that will provide descriptive information regarding many of the proposed research questions. Based on the clinical experience of the investigators, it is expected that women with vulvodynia will report lower rates of pregnancy and higher levels of fear about pregnancy and childbirth in comparison to women without such pain. It is also expected that women with vulvodynia will report more difficulties becoming pregnant as compared to women without such pain, and that women with vulvodynia will report more elective nonvaginal births in comparison to vaginal births.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

241

Conditions

Vulvodynia Provoked Vestibulodynia

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 19 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * previous diagnosis of vulvodynia from a physician (women with vulvodynia only) * assessed and/or treated at one of 3 clinics (women with vulvodynia only) * free from chronic vulvar pain and pain with sexual intercourse in their lifetime (control women only) * 19 years of age or older * fluent in English Exclusion Criteria: * younger than 19 years of age * lack of fluency in English

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Pregnancy Rates

We will assess if women with vulvodynia experience different rates of pregnancy in comparison to women without such pain