Psychophysical evidence of nociceptor sensitization in vulvar vestibulitis syndrome

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Abstract
) with vestibulitis and 20 control subjects (mean age 25.6 years). The tests were carried out on days 7–11 of the menstrual cycle. Patients had allodynia to mechanical testing with von Frey filaments, 14.3±3.1 mN in the symptomatic posterior area as compared with 158±33.5 mN in healthy subjects, P<0.0001. The pain threshold to heat was 38.6±0.6°C in patients and 43.8±0.8°C in controls, P<0.0001. In addition, pain threshold to cold was 21.6±1.2°C in patients whereas cooling down to 6°C was usually not painful in controls. WCL was 4.9±0.5°C in patients and 9.6±1.5°C in healthy subjects, P<0.01. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that patients with VVS have an increased innervation and/or sensitization of thermoreceptors and nociceptors in their vestibular mucosa....