Prevalence and predictors of chronic lower genital tract discomfort

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the prevalence of chronic lower genital t ract discomfort in the general population and to identify demographic and r eproductive characteristics associated with this disorder. STUDY DESIGN: We surveyed a random sample of 480 women (age range, 20 to 59 years; 60 women for each 5-year age category) from 1 Boston area suburban community. Participants were asked to complete a 1-page self-administered o ptically scannable questionnaire that pertained to current and previous gen ital tract discomfort. RESULTS: After 2 mailings and 1 telephone follow-up, as well as the elimina tion of 42 ineligible women, 303 (70%) questionnaires were returned. Fifty- six women (18.5%) reported a history of lower genital tract discomfort that persisted for >3 months. Approximately 12% reported a history of chronic k nife-like or excessive pain on contact to the genital area, whereas 6.6% ex perienced persistent lower genital tract itching or burning. Women who repo rted their age at menarche to be less than or equal to 11 years old were mo re than twice as likely to report a history of chronic lower genital tract discomfort compared with women who began menses at age 12 or later (odds ra tio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 4.8). Reported pain at the time o f first use of tampons was associated with an increased risk of chronic low er genital tract discomfort later in life (odds ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 4.9). CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that women from the general population are willi ng to provide sensitive information on lower genital tract discomfort-a fir st step toward bringing notice to this understudied disorder. In addition, our data support the theory that vulvar trauma in early life may influence or serve as a marker for risk of subsequent chronic vulvar disorders.