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Epidemiology of Vulvar Pain

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Vulvar Pain

Abstract

Vulvar pain is a very common problem that affects women of all age groups. Too often, women endure pain and sexual dysfunction for years without an adequate definitive diagnosis. They are desperate for help, looking for every type of medical and alternative treatment and regularly self-treat, wasting a lot of money a year in disappointing/frustrating consultations, anti-yeast creams, and other over-the-counter treatments.

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Graziottin, A., Murina, F. (2017). Epidemiology of Vulvar Pain. In: Vulvar Pain. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42677-8_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42677-8_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-42675-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-42677-8

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