The literature estimates prevalence anywhere from 2-20% of U.S. women. A variety of studies exist, most of which are small-scale and based out of case reports or selected OB/GYN practices. For this reason, it is thought that previous estimates were on the lower side. Recent work at Harvard University supports this thought.

Preliminary studies from a large scale (n=16,000) Harvard-based, NIH-sponsored epidemiologic study of women in the Boston area aged 18-64 years indicate a lifetime 16% prevalence of chronic vulvar burning, knife-like pain or pain on vulvar contact for 3 months or longer (1)

Unpublished results of a UMDNJ-based, NIH-sponsored survey study of women patients at a University-based medical group indicate a 21% (n=378) lifetime prevalence of chronic gynecologic pain and a 13.5% (n=242) prevalence of vulvodynia-like symptoms.

(1) Harlow BL,Stewart EG.A population-based assessment of chronic unexplained vulvar pain:have we underestimated the prevalence of vulvodynia?J Am Med Women's Assoc 2003;58:82-88