Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation as an Additional Treatment for Women Suffering from Therapy-Resistant Provoked Vestibulodynia: A Feasibility Study

Marleen S. Vallinga; Symen K. Spoelstra; Inge L. M. Hemel; Harry B. M. van de Wiel; Willibrord C. M. Weijnnar Schultz

doi:10.1111/jsm.12740

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation as an Additional Treatment for Women Suffering from Therapy-Resistant Provoked Vestibulodynia: A Feasibility Study

Marleen S. Vallinga, Symen K. Spoelstra, Inge L. M. Hemel, Harry B. M. van de Wiel, Willibrord C. M. Weijnnar Schultz

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

IntroductionThe current approach to women with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) comprises a multidimensional, multidisciplinary therapeutic protocol. As PVD is considered to be a chronic pain disorder, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can be used as an additional therapy for women with otherwise therapy-resistant PVD.

AimsThe aims of this study were to evaluate whether TENS has a beneficial effect on vulvar pain, sexual functioning, and sexually-related personal distress in women with therapy-resistant PVD and to assess the effect of TENS on the need for vestibulectomy.

MethodsA longitudinal prospective follow-up study was performed on women with therapy-resistant PVD who received additional domiciliary TENS. Self-report questionnaires and visual analog scales (VASs) were completed at baseline (T1), post-TENS (T2), and follow-up (T3).

Main Outcome MeasuresVulvar pain, sexual functioning, and sexually-related personal distress were the main outcome measures.

ResultsThirty-nine women with therapy-resistant PVD were included. Mean age was 275.6years (range: 19 to 41); mean duration between TENS and T3 follow-up was 10.1 +/- 10.7months (range: 2 to 32). Vulvar pain VAS scores directly post-TENS (median 3.4) and at follow-up (median 3.2) were significantly (P

ConclusionThe addition of self-administered TENS to multidimensional treatment significantly reduced the level of vulvar pain and the need for vestibulectomy. The long-term effect was stable. These results not only support our hypothesis that TENS constitutes a feasible and beneficial addition to multidimensional treatment for therapy-resistant PVD, but also the notion that PVD can be considered as a chronic pain syndrome. Vallinga MS, Spoelstra SK, Hemel ILM, van de Wiel HBM, and Weijmar Schultz WCM. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as an additional treatment for women suffering from therapy-resistant provoked vestibulodynia: A feasibility study. J Sex Med 2015;12:228-237.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	228-237
Number of pages	10
Journal	Journal of Sexual Medicine
Volume	12
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12740
Publication status	Published - Jan-2015

Keywords

Dyspareunia
Provoked Vestibulodynia
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
Vulvar Pain
Female Sexual Pain Disorders
Genito-Pelvic Pain
Penetration Disorder
Vestibulectomy
SEXUAL PAIN DISORDERS
DISTRESS SCALE FSDS
FUNCTION INDEX FSFI
QUALITY-OF-LIFE
VULVAR VESTIBULITIS
CONTROLLED-TRIAL
DYSPAREUNIA
CLASSIFICATION
DYSFUNCTION
MANAGEMENT

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Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation as an Additional Treatment for Women Suffering
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@article{37f7713321e4491d88dac852bd937852,

title = "Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation as an Additional Treatment for Women Suffering from Therapy-Resistant Provoked Vestibulodynia: A Feasibility Study",

abstract = "IntroductionThe current approach to women with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) comprises a multidimensional, multidisciplinary therapeutic protocol. As PVD is considered to be a chronic pain disorder, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can be used as an additional therapy for women with otherwise therapy-resistant PVD.AimsThe aims of this study were to evaluate whether TENS has a beneficial effect on vulvar pain, sexual functioning, and sexually-related personal distress in women with therapy-resistant PVD and to assess the effect of TENS on the need for vestibulectomy.MethodsA longitudinal prospective follow-up study was performed on women with therapy-resistant PVD who received additional domiciliary TENS. Self-report questionnaires and visual analog scales (VASs) were completed at baseline (T1), post-TENS (T2), and follow-up (T3).Main Outcome MeasuresVulvar pain, sexual functioning, and sexually-related personal distress were the main outcome measures.ResultsThirty-nine women with therapy-resistant PVD were included. Mean age was 275.6years (range: 19 to 41); mean duration between TENS and T3 follow-up was 10.1 +/- 10.7months (range: 2 to 32). Vulvar pain VAS scores directly post-TENS (median 3.4) and at follow-up (median 3.2) were significantly (PConclusionThe addition of self-administered TENS to multidimensional treatment significantly reduced the level of vulvar pain and the need for vestibulectomy. The long-term effect was stable. These results not only support our hypothesis that TENS constitutes a feasible and beneficial addition to multidimensional treatment for therapy-resistant PVD, but also the notion that PVD can be considered as a chronic pain syndrome. Vallinga MS, Spoelstra SK, Hemel ILM, van de Wiel HBM, and Weijmar Schultz WCM. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as an additional treatment for women suffering from therapy-resistant provoked vestibulodynia: A feasibility study. J Sex Med 2015;12:228-237.",

keywords = "Dyspareunia, Provoked Vestibulodynia, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), Vulvar Pain, Female Sexual Pain Disorders, Genito-Pelvic Pain, Penetration Disorder, Vestibulectomy, SEXUAL PAIN DISORDERS, DISTRESS SCALE FSDS, FUNCTION INDEX FSFI, QUALITY-OF-LIFE, VULVAR VESTIBULITIS, CONTROLLED-TRIAL, DYSPAREUNIA, CLASSIFICATION, DYSFUNCTION, MANAGEMENT",

author = "Vallinga, {Marleen S.} and Spoelstra, {Symen K.} and Hemel, {Inge L. M.} and {van de Wiel}, {Harry B. M.} and Schultz, {Willibrord C. M. Weijnnar}",

year = "2015",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1111/jsm.12740",

language = "English",

volume = "12",

pages = "228--237",

journal = "Journal of Sexual Medicine",

issn = "1743-6095",

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Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation as an Additional Treatment for Women Suffering from Therapy-Resistant Provoked Vestibulodynia : A Feasibility Study. / Vallinga, Marleen S.; Spoelstra, Symen K.; Hemel, Inge L. M.; van de Wiel, Harry B. M.; Schultz, Willibrord C. M. Weijnnar.

In: Journal of Sexual Medicine, Vol. 12, No. 1, 01.2015, p. 228-237.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation as an Additional Treatment for Women Suffering from Therapy-Resistant Provoked Vestibulodynia

T2 - A Feasibility Study

AU - Vallinga, Marleen S.

AU - Spoelstra, Symen K.

AU - Hemel, Inge L. M.

AU - van de Wiel, Harry B. M.

AU - Schultz, Willibrord C. M. Weijnnar

PY - 2015/1

Y1 - 2015/1

N2 - IntroductionThe current approach to women with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) comprises a multidimensional, multidisciplinary therapeutic protocol. As PVD is considered to be a chronic pain disorder, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can be used as an additional therapy for women with otherwise therapy-resistant PVD.AimsThe aims of this study were to evaluate whether TENS has a beneficial effect on vulvar pain, sexual functioning, and sexually-related personal distress in women with therapy-resistant PVD and to assess the effect of TENS on the need for vestibulectomy.MethodsA longitudinal prospective follow-up study was performed on women with therapy-resistant PVD who received additional domiciliary TENS. Self-report questionnaires and visual analog scales (VASs) were completed at baseline (T1), post-TENS (T2), and follow-up (T3).Main Outcome MeasuresVulvar pain, sexual functioning, and sexually-related personal distress were the main outcome measures.ResultsThirty-nine women with therapy-resistant PVD were included. Mean age was 275.6years (range: 19 to 41); mean duration between TENS and T3 follow-up was 10.1 +/- 10.7months (range: 2 to 32). Vulvar pain VAS scores directly post-TENS (median 3.4) and at follow-up (median 3.2) were significantly (PConclusionThe addition of self-administered TENS to multidimensional treatment significantly reduced the level of vulvar pain and the need for vestibulectomy. The long-term effect was stable. These results not only support our hypothesis that TENS constitutes a feasible and beneficial addition to multidimensional treatment for therapy-resistant PVD, but also the notion that PVD can be considered as a chronic pain syndrome. Vallinga MS, Spoelstra SK, Hemel ILM, van de Wiel HBM, and Weijmar Schultz WCM. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as an additional treatment for women suffering from therapy-resistant provoked vestibulodynia: A feasibility study. J Sex Med 2015;12:228-237.

AB - IntroductionThe current approach to women with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) comprises a multidimensional, multidisciplinary therapeutic protocol. As PVD is considered to be a chronic pain disorder, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can be used as an additional therapy for women with otherwise therapy-resistant PVD.AimsThe aims of this study were to evaluate whether TENS has a beneficial effect on vulvar pain, sexual functioning, and sexually-related personal distress in women with therapy-resistant PVD and to assess the effect of TENS on the need for vestibulectomy.MethodsA longitudinal prospective follow-up study was performed on women with therapy-resistant PVD who received additional domiciliary TENS. Self-report questionnaires and visual analog scales (VASs) were completed at baseline (T1), post-TENS (T2), and follow-up (T3).Main Outcome MeasuresVulvar pain, sexual functioning, and sexually-related personal distress were the main outcome measures.ResultsThirty-nine women with therapy-resistant PVD were included. Mean age was 275.6years (range: 19 to 41); mean duration between TENS and T3 follow-up was 10.1 +/- 10.7months (range: 2 to 32). Vulvar pain VAS scores directly post-TENS (median 3.4) and at follow-up (median 3.2) were significantly (PConclusionThe addition of self-administered TENS to multidimensional treatment significantly reduced the level of vulvar pain and the need for vestibulectomy. The long-term effect was stable. These results not only support our hypothesis that TENS constitutes a feasible and beneficial addition to multidimensional treatment for therapy-resistant PVD, but also the notion that PVD can be considered as a chronic pain syndrome. Vallinga MS, Spoelstra SK, Hemel ILM, van de Wiel HBM, and Weijmar Schultz WCM. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as an additional treatment for women suffering from therapy-resistant provoked vestibulodynia: A feasibility study. J Sex Med 2015;12:228-237.

KW - Dyspareunia

KW - Provoked Vestibulodynia

KW - Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

KW - Vulvar Pain

KW - Female Sexual Pain Disorders

KW - Genito-Pelvic Pain

KW - Penetration Disorder

KW - Vestibulectomy

KW - SEXUAL PAIN DISORDERS

KW - DISTRESS SCALE FSDS

KW - FUNCTION INDEX FSFI

KW - QUALITY-OF-LIFE

KW - VULVAR VESTIBULITIS

KW - CONTROLLED-TRIAL

KW - DYSPAREUNIA

KW - CLASSIFICATION

KW - DYSFUNCTION

KW - MANAGEMENT

U2 - 10.1111/jsm.12740

DO - 10.1111/jsm.12740

M3 - Article

C2 - 25388372

VL - 12

SP - 228

EP - 237

JO - Journal of Sexual Medicine

JF - Journal of Sexual Medicine

SN - 1743-6095

IS - 1

ER -