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Dr. Caroline Pukall, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada explains her vulvodynia online study and how women and their partners can participate.

For more information on Vulvodynia visit www.EmpowHer.com.

Online Study Examining Psychosocial Functioning in Women With and Without Vulvar Pain

We are currently inviting women with vulvar pain and women without such pain to participate in an online study examining sexual and relationship functioning and body image. Both women who are currently involved in a relationship and women who are not in a relationship are invited to participate in this study. Partners are also invited to participate in this study, although this is not necessary for participation. If you are a woman who is 18 years of age or older, you may be eligible to participate! Participation involves the completion of a brief telephone screening interview and online questionnaires. Please call the Sexual Health Research Laboratory (613) 533-3276 or email SHRL@queensu.ca for more information regarding this study. All calls will be strictly confidential, and participants can choose to remain anonymous. Participants have the chance to win one of three $100 cash prizes.

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Dr. Caroline Pukall, explains who gets vulvodynia and if women who have had a hysterectomy more likely to experience vulvar pain?

For more Vulvodynia or Hysterectomy information visit www.EmpowHer.com.

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Caroline F. Pukall, Ph.D, CPsych is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Dr. Pukall explains how a woman with vulvodynia can advocate for herself in her doctor’s office.

For more information on Vulvodynia visit www.EmpowHer.com.

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Dr. Caroline Pukall, is the vulvodynia pain I’m having all in my head? Dr. Caroline Pukall is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

For more information on Vulvodynia visit www.EmpowHer.com.

What is Vulvodynia?

Vulvodynia is defined as “vulvar discomfort, most often described as burning pain, occurring in the absence of relevant visible findings or a specific, clinically identifiable, neurologic disorder.” Vulvodynia affects an estimated 16% of women in the general population. There are two major types of vulvodynia that are based on pain location. The first is localized vulvodynia, in which pain is restricted to a portion of the vulva, such as the vestibule, as in vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS). The second is generalized vulvodynia (GVD), in which the pain is more diffuse, involving the whole vulva.

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Dr. Caroline Pukall, what are the current treatments for vulvodynia? Dr. Caroline Pukall is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

For more information on Vulvodynia visit www.EmpowHer.com.

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Dr. Caroline Pukall, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada shares how she diagnoses vulvodynia, vestibulitis and vestibulodynia.

For more information on Vulvodynia, Vestibulitis, or Vestibulodynia visit www.EmpowHer.com.

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Dr. Caroline Pukall from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada shares the common factors between vulvodynia, vestibulodynia and generalized vulvodynia.

For more information on Vulvodynia, Vestibuldynia and Generalized Vulvodynia visit www.EmpowHer.com.

What is Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome (VVS)?

VVS is the most common cause of dyspareunia (i.e., painful intercourse) in women of child-bearing age. A recent epidemiological study estimated that VVS affects 12% of pre-menopausal women in the general population. Women with VVS report experiencing a highly localized, burning and/or cutting pain at the entrance of the vagina (called the vulvar vestibule) during sexual intercourse, as well as during other activities that involve applying pressure to the vestibule (e.g., tampon insertion, gynecological exams). Although the pain of VVS typically disappears after pressure to the vestibule is removed, many women report lasting pain or discomfort after sexual intercourse or similar activities.

Approximately 50% of women who suffer from VVS have what is called primary VVS, indicating that the pain has been present since their first intercourse attempt. The other half has secondary or acquired VVS, which develops after a period of pain-free intercourse, and in many cases, after an aggravating factor (e.g., repeated vaginal infections, sexually transmitted diseases). However, little is known about the causes of VVS; most health professionals agree that it is caused by a combination of factors.

What is Generalized Vulvodynia (GVD)?

GVD is a common form of vulvar pain, affecting 6-7% of women in the general population, with a higher prevalence in women over the age of 30. In GVD, the pain is present on a constant or almost constant basis and affects the entire vulvar region. Like VVS, the pain of GVD is described predominantly as burning; in fact, the original term for GVD was “the burning vulva syndrome.” GVD not only affects sexual functioning in most women, it also affects daily activities (e.g., sitting for long periods of time at work, bicycle riding) due to the constant nature of the pain.

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Dr. Caroline Pukall, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada explains where most women feel the vestibulodynia pain and how it is best described.

For more information on Vestibulodynia visit www.EmpowHer.com.

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Listen as Dr. Pukall an Assistant Professor at Department of Psychology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada explains vestibulodynia.

For more information on Vestibulodynia or Dr. Caroline Pukall visit www.EmpowHer.com.

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Dr. Caroline Pukall, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada discuses how yeast infections may contribute to vulvodynia.

For more information on Vulvodynia visit www.EmpowHer.com.

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