Current Uses of Surgery in the Treatment of Genital Pain

Genital pain frequently causes sexual dysfunction and psychological distress that can impact every aspect of a woman’s life. When conservative medical treatments do not adequately treat the genital pain, surgical procedures have the potential to significantly decrease the pain. The following review examines surgical procedures currently being used to treat pudendal neuralgia, scarring from lichen sclerosus, and provoked vestibulodynia. In addition, a diagnostic algorithm is included that can be used to identify specific causes of genital pain and to determining when surgery is an appropriate treatment option.