1. Introduction
VBD, Vulvar Pain, hyperalgesia, dyspareunia, vulvodynia, pain, vulvar pain, traumatic, burning/pain, allodynia, Vestibulodynia
DISORDER, DYSPAREUNIA, DISEASE, VULVODYNIA, VULVAR PAIN, VESTIBULODYNIA
Background: Vestibulodynia (VBD) is the most common form of vulvodynia. Because VBD is a pain disorder, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can be used as treatment. This study aims to evaluate the effects of two-parameter combinations (frequency and pulse duration) of TENS in reducing pain intensity and dyspareunia in VBD. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was conducted to study the effect of two different electrical stimulation treatment regimens on women with VBD receiving domiciliary TENS. Outcomes were the mean change from baseline at 60 and 120 days of burning/pain and dyspareunia (VAS), Vulvar Pain Functional Questionnaire (V-Q), Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) and vaginal electromyography measurements. Results: A total of 78 subjects, 39 in each group, completed the trial. Patients in Groups 1 and 2 received a mean of 46.9 and 48.4 TENS sessions. By day 120, there was a 38.2% reduction in the burning/pain and a 52.1% reduction in the dyspareunia VAS scores in Group 1, as compared to 21.3% (A recent consensus statement has been made on the difference between persistent vulvar pain of at least three months triggered by a specific disease (e.g., inflammatory, neoplastic, traumatic) and vulvodynia, which is vulvar pain without an identifiable reason [This hyperinnervation correlates with allodynia (pain from light contact) and hyperalgesia (enhanced pain perception) [Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) involves delivering an electrical current through the skin to treat pain and is effective in many clinical areas, including inflammatory, neurological, and non-inflammatory conditions [According to studies, TENS yielded a significant improvement in pain and sexual function in patients with VBD [