VULVAR VESTIBULITIS IN THE NORTH OF SWEDEN - AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC CASE-CONTROL STUDY

OBJECTIVE: To determine the epidemiologic characteristics of patients with vulvar vestibulitis. STUDY DESIGN: During the years 1992-1994, 32 women with vulvar vestibulitis were referred to the Vulva Clinic, Uni versity Hospital, Umea, Sweden. They were asked questions regarding ag e, age at first intel course, pregnancies, number of lifetime partners , use of oral contraceptives and past gynecologic history, including i nfections and previous treatments. The cases were compared to 17 healt hy controls. For statistical evaluation, the two-tailed Wilcoxon rank sum test was used. RESULTS: There were no differences between the grou ps regarding age, age at first intercourse, pregnancies, number of lif etime partners or history of genital infections, with the exception of human papillomavirus. The cases had been treated significantly more o ften for suspected papillomavirus infection and had also used oral con traceptives for a significantly longer period. CONCLUSION: This study provided support for the hypothesis of a steroidal etiology of the syn drome.