ReviewDrugs2019
Treatment of Vulvodynia: Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Approaches.
Review in Drugs, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 79 citations in OpenAlex.
- Beyond the placebo effect: a systematic review and a network meta-analysis of treatment strategies for vulvodynia.BMC women's health · 2026Pooled it
- Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives in vulvodynia: From current evidence to future investigations.Cell reports. Medicine · 2026Review
- Topical resiniferatoxin for the treatment of vestibulodynia: a prospective observational trial.AJOG global reports · 2026Article
- Impact of Vulvodynia on the Quality of Life of Women: A Rapid Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Efficacy and Safety of Topical 5% Cannabidiol Plus Myrcene for the Treatment of Vestibulodynia: A Multi-Centric Randomized Controlled Trial.Biomedicines · 2025Article
- Botulinum toxin for provoked vestibulodynia.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025Article
- Treatment Strategies for Painful Pelvic Floor Conditions: A Focus on the Potential Benefits of Cannabidiol.Biomolecules · 2024Review
- Myostatin Changes in Females with UI after Magnetic Stimulation: A Quasi-Experimental Study.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2024Article
- Vulvodynia, Genital Eczema and Lichen Sclerosus: What are the Successful Treatments from a Patient's Perspective?International journal of women's health · 2024Article
- Article
- Vulvodynia - A contemporary understanding and practical approach in primary care settings.Malaysian family physician : the official journal of the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia · 2024Review
- Botulinum Toxin Injections as a Treatment of Refractory Vulvodynia in Adolescents: A Case Series.Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology · 2023Article
- A review of psychocutaneous disorders from a psychotherapeutic perspective-Toolkit for the dermatologist.Skin health and disease · 2023Review
- Inflammation, lipids, and pain in vulvar disease.Pharmacology & therapeutics · 2023Review
- A Qualitative and Quantitative Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness and Safety of Magnetic Stimulation in Women with Urinary Incontinence Symptoms and Pelvic Floor Disorders.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2023Article
- Approach of Chronic Pelvic Pain with Top Flat Magnetic Stimulation.Advances in urology · 2023Article
- Effectiveness of topical gabapentin in the treatment of vulvodynia: a narrative synthesis.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- LadyliftPrzeglad menopauzalny = Menopause review · 2022Article
- Female Sexual Dysfunctions and Urogynecological Complaints: A Narrative Review.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2022Review
- Approach to Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women: Incorporating Chronic Overlapping Pain Conditions in Assessment and Management.Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Vulvodynia is a common, recurrent, vulvar pain condition with debilitating consequences for affected women's health and quality of life. The heterogeneity of women suffering from vulvodynia as well as its uncertain and likely multifactorial etiology pose a significant challenge to identifying any kind of "gold standard" treatment. Thus, treatment providers must be well versed in the various options and the evidence for each. In this review, we begin with pharmacological treatments, followed by non-pharmacological treatments, surgery, and finally multimodal treatments. For each approach, we briefly discuss the method, mechanism of action, and empirical support for the treatment. In sum, pharmacological treatments that may be beneficial but require further research include antinociceptive agents (lidocaine, capsaicin), anti-inflammatory agents (corticosteroids, interferon), neuromodulating medications (anticonvulsants and antidepressants), hormonal agents, and muscle relaxants (e.g., botulinum toxin). There is strong evidence to support and recommend non-pharmacological interventions including psychological therapy, pelvic floor physical therapy, as well as surgery (i.e., vestibulectomy for provoked vestibulodynia) for the treatment of vulvodynia. We conclude this review with a discussion of issues that may have hindered progress of treatment efficacy and effectiveness, and recommendations for moving the field forward.
Indexed as
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.