Efficacy of Dry Needling for Reducing Pain During Intercourse in Women With Provoked Vestibulodynia: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

What this Trial Is About

Chronic vulvar pain affects up to 16% of women and can be very distressing, especially provoked vestibulodynia (PVD), which causes sharp pain at the vaginal entrance during pressure or attempted penetration. Women with PVD often face psychological distress and disruptions in sexual function, with few effective treatment options available. This research aims to evaluate the use of dry needling (DN), a therapy targeting muscle tension, to reduce pain in women with PVD through a large randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either real dry needling with needle penetration or sham dry needling with non-penetrating needles. Both treatments involve eight weekly sessions focused on the pelvic floor, hip, and lower back muscles, combined with education. This multicenter study compares these two approaches to establish whether dry needling can effectively reduce pain during intercourse in women with PVD. Women in the study will undergo assessments at the start, after treatment, and six months later. Researchers will measure changes in pain intensity during intercourse, pain quality, sexual function and distress, psychological factors like fear and catastrophizing, and pelvic floor muscle function and structure. Participants' satisfaction and perceptions of improvement will also be tracked to evaluate the treatment's impact and safety over time.

Efficacy of Dry Needling in Reducing Pain During Sexual Intercourse