A scoping review on studies of vulvovaginal pain in racialized women

Vulvovaginal pain in women has been associated with a host of negative outcomes in the domains of sexual, relational, and psychosocial well-being. Despite significantly affecting racialized groups, most literature in the field has been conducted on white or European samples.

In order to guide future research and inform clinical conceptualizations, we conducted a scoping review to document previous research priorities and establish current knowledge of vulvovaginal pain in racialized women.

In total, 17 studies were extracted and included in the review after independent title and abstract and full-text review.

Results were categorized based on study aim, indicating a focus on the prevalence, nature, and experience of vulvovaginal pain in racialized women. Black women were the most represented group in this literature, followed by Hispanic women, whereas other racialized groups, like Asian, Middle Eastern, and Indigenous women, were not represented.

Overall, findings revealed that racialized (as compared to white) women's experiences of chronic vulvovaginal pain are distinct and often associated with worse outcomes and experiences. These results highlight the importance of accounting for social location in vulvar pain experiences. Clinical and research implications are discussed.