ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN VULVODYNIA

Authors

  • Fabielle Menezes Tolfo Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7102-0098
  • Gustavo Beltrame Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC)
  • Eduarda Deluca Muller Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC)
  • Kimberly Scariot Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC)
  • Beatriz Geremias dos Santos Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18616/inova.v14i2.7796

Abstract

Vulvodynia is vulvar pain or discomfort, of idiopathic cause and lasting at least three months. It is estimated that its prevalence ranges from 10% to 28%. It is a diagnosis of exclusion and the clinical picture includes sharp, burning, or stabbing pain. The most influential psychological factors are: anxiety and depression. This review of articles aims to elucidate the relation between anxiety and depression with vulvodynia and the impact on women's sexual health. The work consists of analyzing scientific articles and periodicals about the sexual health of women with vulvodynia linked to psychological factors. There is a relation between anxiety and depression with pain intensity and worsening of sexual quality. It is common among women with vulvodynia to refuse painful processes, such as sex. Traumatic situations such as sexual abuse and immediate postpartum are also important. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy has shown good results. Nociceptive blockade with Lidocaine and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation are efficient in refractory cases. There seems to be a relation between anxiety and depression and vulvodynia. Due to the etiological uncertainty, the cure cannot be guaranteed, in order to avoid the patient feeling responsible for the therapeutic failure. The conduct must be individual and multidisciplinary, with the approach of emotional aspects being essential, especially anxiety and depression.

Key-words: Vulvodynia, Sexuality, Women's Health, Depression, Anxiety.

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Published

2023-02-14