GYNAECOLOGICAL DISORDERS

Vulval Disease

A number of distressing conditions affect the lower genital tract in women. Vulval disease is often poorly managed as the multitude of conditions affecting this area range from dermatological to neurological diagnoses. Broadly there are three groups of vulval conditions:

• Skin conditions called Dermatoses. The commonest being Lichen sclerosus.
• Premalignant conditions such as Vulval Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VIN)
• Vulval pain conditions such as vulvodynia many of which themselves can be precipitated by other conditions

The commonest presenting symptoms for women with vulval disease are either itching (pruritus), a noticeable skin change either a swelling or split, and pain. Vulval pain can be continually present or affect sexual function but often is intractable.

Ideally Specialists trained in this specific area of practice should undertake the management of vulval disease. Doctors caring for women with vulval disease may be gynaecologists, dermatologists or Genitourinary physicians and should ideally be members of the British Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Diseases (BSSVD) or the International Society for the Study of Vulvar Vaginal Disease (ISSVD).