View clinical trials related to Vulvodynia.
Filter by:Vestibulodynia (VBD), term revised by Consensus Terminology and Classification of Persistent Vulvar Pain and Vulvodynia in 2015, is a vulvar pain of at least 3 months' duration, without clear identifiable cause and localized at vestibuli. Women affected by this disease report localized hypersensitivity and pain of the vulvar vestibule to the touch (eg, during sexual intercourse or tampon use). This pattern of responses is suggestive of sensory abnormalities in the form of evoked pain (eg, hyperalgesia or allodynia). Research biopsy studies have demonstrated increased innervation of the vulvar vestibule and increased subepithelial heparinase activity and cytokines that have been associated with neuroinflammatory processes. In addition, the discomfort inherent in VBD is always associated with pelvic floor muscle overactivity, with the development of myofascial trigger points, resulting in localized or radiating pain and/or severe tenderness. A rich nerve plexus was identified within the vaginal submucosa, which was only composed of sympathetic and parasympathetic axons, with contributions of smaller sensory fibers. The sensory nerve endings of the vulvar vestibule are dense and shallow, making this region more physiologically sensitive. Several works suggest that a thinner vestibular mucosa is more sensitive to nociception because nerve endings become more superficial, thus altering the transduction of mechanical pressure to facilitate nociception. The CO2 fractionated laser, has been used to safely and effectively treat symptomatic vaginal atrophy. This tool has also been found to be useful in the treatment of vestibulodynia. In this open pilot study, 30 female subjects aged more 18 years old at inclusion, having symptoms of VBD from at least 6 months, have given her informed consent and meet all the eligibility criteria, will be enrolled. The subjects will be treated with CO2 Fractionated Laser into vestibule, for 3 sessions at monthly intervals with a follow up of 4 months. Subjects will come to a total of 6 visits over a period of 3 months. The primary objectives of the study are to evaluate the performance and safety of Pixel CO2-Alma Fractionated Laser in women affected by VBD by the assessment of vestibular mucosa thickness by ultrasound evaluation and vestibular perception thresholds changes at day 84 and 120 and by searching the adverse event during all the study. The secondary objectives are the assessment of VAS for burning/pain, and dyspareunia, evaluation of pain and hypersensitivity to the touch by Swab test, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and by Vulval Pain Functional Questionnaire (VQ) at the visits.
Currently, the pathogenesis of Localized Provoked Vulvodynia (LPV) has not been elucidated. Few observations may point to involvement of the microbiome: the association of LPV with preceding chronic recurrent candidiasis, and the reports of the beneficial effect of a diet avoiding oxalate on Vulvodynia. Studies in the new field of microbiome research focus on the composition of overall microorganisms in our body and their impacts on our health. Changes in the composition of the vaginal microbiota (dysbiosis) have been linked with different health and disease states. We have also shown recently that women can be divided into 2 groups according to the composition of their vaginal microbiome. The proposed study will compare the vaginal microbiome of women with severe LPV, not treated by diet and otherwise healthy, to women without LPV (we will also compare our results to the NIH HMP data). Vaginal pH and date of menstrual cycle will be checked. We propose that dysbiosis in the vaginal microbiota may trigger the development of LPV.