Histologic and receptor analysis of primary and secondary vestibulodynia and controls: a prospective study

Objective The objective of the study was to assess the association between hormone receptor densities, pain nerves, and inflammation in vestibulodynia patients. Study Design In a prospective study, tender and nontender biopsies from 10 primary and 10 secondary vestibulodynia patients were compared with biopsies in 4 nontender controls. Hormone receptors were evaluated using immunohistochemistry for estrogen receptor-α and -β, androgen, and progesterone receptors. Inflammation, nerves, and mast cells were assessed histologically. Statistical analysis was by Fisher's exact test, analysis of variance, paired Student t test, and Wilcoxon rank test. Results Tender sites from primary vestibulodynia had increased nerve density compared with secondary and control biopsies ( P = .01). Tender sites in secondary vestibulodynia had more lymphocytes than tender primary sites and control biopsies ( P Conclusion Markers of inflammation differed between primary and secondary vestibulodynia and controls.