Consulting a Patient on Hormonal Contraception: A Clinical Case of Vulvar Vestibulitis

Abstract

This article presents a clinical case of a 23-year-old female who developed vulvodynia and dyspareunia while taking combined oral contraceptives (OCs). The case study shows that physicians should not recommend any combination of OCs over another to reduce weight gain, headache, breast tenderness, breakthrough bleeding, sexual dysfunction, dyspareunia, and decreased libido. Hormonal contraception counseling should be based on known, evidence-based recommendations and not be limited to the unnecessary substitution of one drug for another.

Keywords

• vestibulodynia
• vulvar vestibulitis
• dyspareunia
• hormonal oral contraceptives
• pain