TREATMENT OF VULVAR VESTIBULITIS SYNDROME WITH ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC BIOFEEDBACK OF PELVIC FLOOR MUSCULATURE

Thirty-three women diagnosed as suffering from vulvar vestibulitis syn drome, marked by a significant history of long-term moderate to severe chronic introital dyspareunia and tenderness of the vulvar vestibule, were selected for treatment. Patients were given a computerized elect romyographic evaluation of the pelvic floor muscles and were then prov ided with portable electromyographic biofeedback instrumentation and i nstructions on the conduct of daily, at-home, biofeedback-assisted pel vic floor muscle rehabilitation exercises. They received intermittent evaluations of pelvic floor muscles to ensure compliance and monitor t heir progress and symptom changes. The results show that after an aver age of 16 weeks of practice, pelvic floor muscle contractions increase d 95.4%, vesting tension levels decreased 68%, and the instability of the muscle at rest decreased by 62%. Subjective reports of pain decrea sed an average of 83%. Twenty-eight patients had abstained from interc ourse for an average of 13 months. Twenty-two of these 28 patients res umed intercourse by the end of the treatment period. Six month follow- up indicated maintenance of therapeutic benefits.