Household and hygienic risk factors and their impact on the development and course of lichen sclerosis of the vulva
Authors:   Kuban State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Kolesnikova E.V. ,   Krasnodar, Russian Federation, Zharov A.V. ,   Kuban State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation; Krasnodar, Russian Federation,   State Budgetary Healthcare Institution "Regional Clinical Hospital No. 2" of the Ministry of Health of the Krasnodar Territory; Krasnodar, Russian Federation, Penzhoyan М.A. ,   Kuban State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation; Krasnodar, Russian Federation, Slashcheva M.V. ,   Kuban State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation; Krasnodar, Russian Federation
Published: November 2023

Objective: To identify statistically significant household and hygienic factors that influence the risk of developing lichen sclerosus of the vulva. Design: Cross-sectional cohort comparative case-control study. Materials and methods. The study involved 344 patients with sclerotic lichen of the vulva aged 20 to 70 years and 60 women of the control group of the same age. Based on the survey of women of the main and control groups, a comparative analysis of intimate and household anamnestic factors of the development of sclerotic lichen of the vulva was carried out according to several categorical indicators characterizing the features of sexual life, intimate hygiene, underwear of the patient, etc. Statistical correlation analysis of the obtained anamnestic data of the subjects was performed using the Spearman correlation coefficient (correlations were considered statistically significant at R > 0.15), the Mann -Whitney U—test and the Student t-test (differences were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05). Results. The study established statistically significant household and hygienic risk factors for the development of sclerotic lichen of the vulva: regular shaving and other types of depilation of hair in the vulva (R = –0.38); wearing underwear mainly with a narrow gusset (R = –0.32); intimate hygiene only with water (R = –0.27); wearing underwear mainly with rough seams, lace (R = –0.17); intimate hygiene with perfumes (R = –0.17), p < 0.05. Statistically significant household and hygienic factors that reduce the risk of developing and progressing sclerotic lichen of the vulva have been identified: the use of pharmaceutical products for intimate hygiene containing lactic acid (R = 0.73); wearing underwear made of natural fabrics (R = 0.42), absence or rare shaving /depilation of the vulva (R = 0.21); regular sexual life (R = 0.18), p < 0.05. Conclusion. The data obtained on the influence of household and hygienic factors on the risk of development and the nature of the course of sclerotic lichen of the vulva not only confirm, but also significantly expand and refine the results of foreign studies. Elimination of negative triggers and compliance with favorable household and hygienic conditions can become the basis for the prevention of the occurrence of sclerotic lichen of the vulva and the development of complications of this disease. Keywords: sclerotic lichen, vulva lichen, risk factors, intimate hygiene, vulva, prevention, emollients.