Pelvic floor muscle function in women with provoked vestibulodynia and asymptomatic controls

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis:

The purpose of the present study was to assess vaginal resting pressure (VRP), pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength and endurance, and surface EMG activity in women with and without provoked vestibulodynia (PVD).

Methods:

This was an assessor-masked comparison study including 70 women. Exclusion criteria were any previous pregnancy and presence of candida. Sensitivity of the vulvar vestibule was rated at three sites with Q-tip pressure measurement and a numerical rating scale for pain. VRP and PFM strength and endurance were measured with a high precision pressure transducer connected to a vaginal balloon. Pelvic floor muscle activity was measured with surface EMG. The independent samples t test was used to analyze differences between groups. The p value was set to <0.05

Results:

The mean age of the participants was 24.3 years (SD 4.7) and mean body mass index (BMI) was 22.0 kg/m2 (SD 2.6). Q-tip pressure measurement was significantly lower and pain more severe in the PVD group at all sites of the vulvar vestibule. The PVD group had significantly higher VRP: 20.6 cmH2O (SD 7.1) versus controls: 17.3 cmH2O (SD 4.4), p = 0.02. The PVD group had significantly lower muscle activity during a 10-s holding period; PVD: 465.2 μV (SD 218.4), controls: 591.1 μV (SD 277.7), p = 0.04.

Conclusion:

Young, nulliparous women with PVD had significantly higher VRP, but this finding was not confirmed by vaginal surface EMG.