New Research Reveals How Vulvodynia Diagnosis Varies Across Clinicians
Here at the London Pain Clinic, our Vulva Specialists and researchers are always abreast of the latest research on vulvodynia and all categories of vulva pain in terms of patient experiences, treatment and diagnosis. To that end, we would like to inform readers about a scathing 2025 review, which highlights alarming inconsistencies in vulva pain diagnosis across different healthcare settings—and how our leading London Vulva Pain Clinic is responding.
Did You Know?
“Vulvodynia is a chronic pain condition affecting the vulva that can cause burning, stinging, or sharp pain, sometimes making daily activities and sexual intercourse difficult. Despite affecting up to 1 in 10 women, vulvodynia remains poorly understood, under-diagnosed, and under-treated. Many people with vulvodynia face long delays in getting a diagnosis, inconsistent treatment recommendations, and a lack of clear care pathways” [1].This has unfortunately, been the scenario across the length and breath of the UK. Indeed, at the present time, and recent research shows that patient care is not consistent because approaches to vulvodynia diagnosis, treatment, and the prospect of consistent care, are significantly different among healthcare providers. A good example of the latter is the difference between being see and treated by a GP, as opposed to a Pain Doctor.
GPs VS Pain Doctors
Unlike general practitioners (GPs), Pain Doctors have undergone the necessary additional years of training and in-house clinical expertise that is necessary to ensure accurate patient diagnosis and optimal treatment. For example, here at the London Pain Clinic, our Pain Consultants carry out a comprehensive evaluation, and then, according to the results, and the patient’s requirements, provide a multifaceted Holistic Personalised Treatment Plan which comprises:
- Conventional treatment
- Various forms of cutting-edge therapy (including pelvic floor therapy)
- Psychological support and referral
- The latest state-of-the-art injectables (including pain blockers and Botox)
- Lifestyle advise and guidance (including dealing with anxiety and stress)
Highlighting Vulvodynia
“Many people with vulvodynia face long delays in getting a diagnosis, inconsistent treatment recommendations, and a lack of clear care pathways” [1]
Diagnosis entails the Vulva Doctor ruling out a number of conditions, and recognising certain categories (e.g., unprovoked and provoked vulvodynia).
The Plethora of Diagnostic Challenges
These include:
- Inconsistent Criteria inline with the healthcare practitioner’s knowledge and other factors (such as the NHS budget)
- Differential Diagnosis (for example, other causes my not have been ruled out)
- Subtypes -vulvodynia is an umbrella term for various subtypes
- Provoked Vulvodynia (which refers to pain being triggered by attempted vaginal entry, pressure or touch
- Unprovoked Vulvodynia (which describes the sufferer experiencing pain without any clear trigger
- Mixed Vulvodynia pertains to a combination of unprovoked and provoked vulva pain
Pain Doctors Call For More Research
As matters stand, despite the large number of sufferers all over the world, far more research is needed in order to combat this often life changing condition for good. To that end, in order to fully comprehend all aspects of vulvodynia and its biomarkers (including biomarkers in the brain); and in order to pinpoint the best treatment options and mechanism-based treatments for each individual patient, we call for an upsurge in large-scale research controlled trials and other relevant studies that will adopt the latest leading-edge technology and neuroimaging.
Getting Your Vulva Pain Sorted
If you have been suffering in silence, it is easy to arrange an in-person on online appointment with one of our renowned Pain Doctors. They will explain everything to you in easy to understand laymen’s terms.
Reference
[1]. Lountzi AZ, Abhyankar P, Durand H. A scoping review of vulvodynia research: Diagnosis, treatment, and care experiences. Womens Health (Lond). 2025 Jan-Dec. As cited by the NIH.