Nearly Half of Patients Seeking Care for Vulvovaginal Disorders Report Negative Experiences

A recent study highlights the distressing experiences faced by patients seeking treatment for vulvovaginal disorders. According to research published online on May 8 in JAMA Network Open, around 43.5% of patients reported that their previous healthcare providers were supportive, whereas 26.6% experienced belittling behaviors, and 20.5% felt dismissed or not believed. Many patients expressed that their concerns were minimized, with approximately 41.6% being told they simply needed to relax more, and 20.6% were advised to drink alcohol as a remedy.

Disturbingly, over half of the patients (52.8%) considered abandoning their care due to unresolved concerns. Others reported being referred to psychiatrists without receiving proper medical management (20.6%), feeling unsafe during appointments (16.8%), or being made to feel crazy (39.4%). The latter was rated as the most distressing behavior with an average distress score of 7.39 out of 10. The qualitative feedback from patients revealed themes of clinicians' lack of knowledge about vulvovaginal issues and dismissive attitudes, significantly impacting patient trust and care.

The authors emphasize an urgent need to improve healthcare education on vulvovaginal pain, promoting a biopsychosocial, trauma-informed approach. Developing validated tools to better understand patient experiences is also recommended. This research underscores the importance of compassionate, knowledgeable, and patient-centered care in addressing vulvovaginal disorders.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-patients-vulvovaginal-disorder-negative.html