Long‐term well‐being after surgical or conservative treatment of severe vulvar vestibulitis

Objective. To compare long‐term well‐being of women who needed surgery or did not need surgery in the treatment of severe vulvar vestibulitis syndrome. We also attempted to identify factors explaining differences in the treatment response. Design. An observational case‐control study. Setting. University Hospital Vulva clinic. Population. Sixty‐six women diagnosed with severe vulvar vestibulitis and treated initially by conservative management during 1994–2005. Thirty‐nine women did not respond and underwent posterior vestibulectomy and 27 were managed without surgery. Methods. Baseline patient characteristics, degree of dyspareunia, and details of management were collected from hospital charts. At the follow‐up visit current dyspareunia, sexual well‐being, somatic and mental health, and social support were analyzed. Vestibular tenderness was measured by swab‐touch test. Main outcome measures. Visual analogue scale for dyspareunia, sexual well‐being, vestibular tenderness , and overall patient satisfaction at follow‐up. Results. Dyspareunia decreased significantly in both groups. The visual analogue scale decreased 66.7% in the surgery group and 78.1% in the conservative treatment group ( p = 0.407). Posterior swab‐touch test was negative more frequently after vestibulectomy. Long‐term sexual well‐being did not differ between the two groups. Overall, 89% of the women in both groups were satisfied with the treatment. Women with atopic skin problems were less likely to need surgery (odds ratio 0.2; 95% confidence interval 0.1–0.7). Conclusion. Women with severe vulvar vestibulitis syndrome who do not respond to conservative management achieve good long‐term well‐being and decrease of dyspareunia by posterior vestibulectomy. The response is comparable to that achieved by conservative management among women who do not need surgery.