Childhood nocturnal enuresis in vulvar vestibulitis syndrome

To define correlations between vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS) and childhood nocturnal enuresis and the effect of biofeedback therapy.

Of 104 women diagnosed with VVS, 54 (30 with primary vulvar vestibulitis syndrome [PVVS] and 24 with secondary vulvar vestibulitis syndrome [SVVS], mean age 24.5 years) chose Glazer biofeedback therapy. Information on lower urinary tract symptoms was recorded at the initial and final visits.

Eight of the 30 women with PVVS (26.6%) had a history of childhood enuresis as compared to none of the women with SVVS (p < 0.01). The 8 women developed lower urinary tract symptoms following biofeedback treatment. None of the women with SVVS had urinary symptoms before or following biofeedback therapy. The high, unstable baseline muscle tone revealed by the Glazer technique to be present in all VVS patients underwent substantial reduction and stabilization at the end of biofeedback therapy.

Childhood nocturnal enuresis is apparently common among women with PVVS. New urinary symptoms may develop following biofeedback therapy for PVVS.