Prevalence of dyspareunia and vulvodynia in a Colombian clinic sample: A pilot survey

Abstract

Objective: The primary objective of our research was to determine the prevalence of dyspareunia and vulvodynia in a limited clinical sample of Colombian women. Methods: The study was composed of women who were seen in local Colombian medical clinics. A pilot survey was designed in Spanish to obtain patients’ demographic and medical history. Harlow’s validated questionnaire was incorporated into our survey to screen for dyspareunia and vulvodynia. Results: Five hundred and eighty-two women completed the survey and 96.2% (N = 560) reported being sexually active. The survey response rate was 96%. Among those who were initially screened and reported being sexually active, 51.8% (N = 290; 95% confidence interval: 47.7%–55.9%) described having pain with intercourse (dyspareunia) and 25.9% (N = 145; 95% confidence interval: 22.4%–29.7%) did not have pain. Of those who were sexually active, Harlow’s validated questionnaire was completed by 490 women: 27.6% (N = 135; 95% confidence interval: 23.7–31.75) described vulvar pain lasting longer than 3 months (vulvodynia); 51.9% (95% confidence interval: 43.1%–60.5%) had burning pain; 42.4% (95% confidence interval: 33.8%–51.0%) had sharp stabbing pain; 69.6% (95% confidence interval: 61.1%–77.2%) reported having pain during intercourse (dyspareunia). Conclusion: In this select population sample, the prevalence of dyspareunia ranged from 51.8% using a general survey to 69.6% using a validated questionnaire. The prevalence of vulvodynia was 27.6% (95% confidence interval: 23.7–31.75). This is higher than the prevalence of dyspareunia (45%) and vulvodynia (3%–16%) reported in the US general population.