Pregnancy, Childbirth Intentions and Outcomes Under Sexual Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The main purpose of this study is to assess conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and pain experiences among women who have been diagnosed with vulvodynia. Specifically, this study aims to examine the following among women who have been diagnosed with vulvodynia: 1) rates of pregnancy/childbirth and desire for children; 2) fear of pregnancy and childbirth; 3) potential difficulties experienced while attempting to become pregnant and during pregnancy/childbirth; 4) methods used to become pregnant and deliver; 5) methods used to manage vulvodynia symptoms during pregnancy; and 6) pain outcomes associated with pregnancy. Very little research has examined pregnancy/childbirth experiences among women with vulvodynia, or the natural history of vulvodynia. As such this is a preliminary investigation that will provide descriptive information regarding many of the proposed research questions. Based on the clinical experience of the investigators, it is expected that women with vulvodynia will report lower rates of pregnancy and higher levels of fear about pregnancy and childbirth in comparison to women without such pain. It is also expected that women with vulvodynia will report more difficulties becoming pregnant as compared to women without such pain, and that women with vulvodynia will report more elective nonvaginal births in comparison to vaginal births.

Official Title
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Pregnancy, Childbirth Intentions and Outcomes Under Sexual Pain

Conditions
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Vulvodynia, Provoked Vestibulodynia

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: previous diagnosis of vulvodynia from a physician (women with vulvodynia only) assessed and/or treated at one of 3 clinics (women with vulvodynia only) free from chronic vulvar pain and pain with sexual intercourse in their lifetime (control women only) 19 years of age or older fluent in English Exclusion Criteria: younger than 19 years of age lack of fluency in English

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 19 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| vulvodynia<br>Women with vulvodynia | |
| control<br>Women without vulvar pain | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pregnancy Rates | We will assess if women with vulvodynia experience different rates of pregnancy in comparison to women without such pain | data is collected at a single time point | 
| Intentions to have children | We will assess how many women with vulvodynia wish to have children in their lifetime. | data is collected at a single time point | 
| Fear of pregnancy/childbirth | We will assess if women with vulvodynia report higher levels of fear about pregnancy and childbirth in comparison to women without such pain. | data is collected at a single time point | 
| Difficulties becoming pregnant | We will assess if women with vulvodynia experience more difficulties becoming pregnant in comparison to women without such pain. | data is collected at a single time point | 
| Pregnancy/delivery complications | We will assess if women with vulvodynia experience more complications during pregnancy and delivery in comparison to women without such pain. | data is collected at a single time point. | 
| Pregnancy/delivery methods | We will assess what methods women with vulvodynia use to become pregnant and deliver. | data is collected at a single time point | 
| Symptom management during pregnancy | We will assess how women manage their vulvodynia symptoms during pregnancy. | data is collected at a single time point | 
| Change of pain symptoms during and after pregnancy | We will assess if vulvodynia-related pain symptoms change during and after pregnancy. | data is collected at a single time point | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Course of vulvodynia | We will assess the course of vulvodynia after treatment is received from health care workers specializing in vulvar pain. | data is collected at a single time point | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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pregnancy, childbirth, pain, vulvodynia, provoked vestibulodynia