Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40412493›Full record

ArticleThe journal of pain2025

Vestibulodynia presentation is differentiated by the presence of additional chronic primary pain conditions.

Chloe Shudt, Shad Smith, Andrey Bortsov, Kayla Parr, Sheila Gaynor, Gary Slade, Denniz Zolnoun, Andrea Nackley

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The journal of pain, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Chloe ShudtCenter for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Shad SmithCenter for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Andrey BortsovCenter for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Kayla ParrCenter for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Sheila GaynorCenter for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Gary SladeCenter for Pain Research and Innovation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Denniz ZolnounDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pelvic Pain Research Unit, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Andrea NackleyCenter for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: andrea.nackley@duke.edu.

Funding

Vulvar Vestibulitis syndrome (VVS)P01NS045685 · NINDS · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI ZOLNOUN, DENNIZ A · 2004 to 2014
$12.5M
Vestibulodynia: Understanding Pathophysiology and Determining Appropriate Treatments (Vestibulodynia: UPDATe)R01HD096331 · NICHD · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI NACKLEY, ANDREA G · 2018 to 2024
$4.1M
NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD096331NINDS NIH HHS P01 NS045685
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Vestibulodynia (VBD) is a common chronic primary pain condition (CPPC) defined by the presence of recurrent vulvovaginal pain with no obvious root cause. As many as 3 in 4 women with VBD may have co-occurring CPPCs, such as episodic migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and temporomandibular disorder. The purpose of the present study was to compare pain and pain-related factors in women with VBD alone and those with VBD and co-occurring CPPCs (VBD+). We enrolled 45 women with VBD, 106 with VBD+, and 198 pain-free controls, who underwent a highly specific gynecological examination, quantitative sensory testing at remote body sites, and completed an extensive array of questionnaires assessing various physical and psychological experiences. Blood samples were also collected for genome-wide association study (GWAS). Results demonstrated that women with VBD+ had distinct patterns of heightened local vulvovaginal pain intensity and increased pain sensitivity at remote body site compared to those with VBD. Further women with VBD+ reported taking more medications indicated for pain and greater adverse mood states, somatic and psychological symptoms, and pain catastrophizing. Finally, case-control GWAS analysis identified distinct genetic variants associated with VBD and VBD+ subtypes. Variants associated with VBD were located in genes that regulate reproductive and nervous system development, while those associated with VBD+ were located in genes implicated in synaptic transmission and related CPPC pathophysiology. Together, these findings emphasize the critical need for accounting for CPPC status in VBD diagnostic, mechanistic, and therapeutic methodologies. Perspective This study identifies co-occurring chronic primary pain conditions as a differentiating factor in vestibulodynia presentation, highlighting the need for precise diagnostic criteria and personalized treatment approaches to address heightened symptom burden and complexity.

Indexed as

Chronic PainVulvodyniaAdultFemaleFibromyalgiaGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansIrritable Bowel SyndromeMiddle AgedMigraine DisordersPain MeasurementYoung AdultPelvic floor musclePelvic painQuantitative sensory testingVulvodyniaVulvovaginal pain

Identifiers

PMID40412493
PMCPMC12353184

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Registered trials

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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.