Vulvodynia is characterized by which primary feature?

• A. Sensitive vulva or touch sensitivity
• B. Frequent urinary tract infections
• C. Chronic pelvic pain with deep penetration
• D. Vulvar cancer risk

Answer: (A)

Vulvodynia is defined by chronic vulvar pain with heightened sensitivity to touch or contact. The hallmark is allodynia in the vulvar area—pain that occurs with light touch, clothing, sitting, or during sexual activity—even when there’s no visible skin disease or infection. This persistent, provoked pain typically lasts for months and is not explained by recurrent infections or other identifiable conditions, making the vulvar area unusually painful to normal stimuli.

Frequent urinary tract infections would present with urinary symptoms and infections rather than isolated vulvar pain. Pain described as deep pelvic discomfort with penetration points more toward dyspareunia from other pelvic issues rather than the primary feature of vulvodynia. Vulvar cancer risk is not a characteristic of vulvodynia.