Vulvodynia has no known cause or cure. The NICHD supports research that:
- Addresses basic, clinical, translational, epidemiological, and/or behavioral research on vulvodynia and related symptom-based conditions
- Seeks to identify new diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic approaches to vulvodynia, including research that may be useful for developing future prevention or treatment strategies
- Increases understanding of the pathophysiology, biological and behavioral risk factors, natural history, and genetics of vulvodynia
- Fosters the introduction of novel scientific ideas, model systems, tools, agents, targets, and technologies that have the potential to substantially advance biomedical research
The Research Plan on Vulvodynia, developed by the NICHD in collaboration with other federal, private, and nonprofit agencies and researchers in the field, lays out an agenda for the rigorous scientific research needed to answer questions and fill in knowledge gaps about vulvodynia. The agenda not only builds on ongoing vulvodynia research but also seeks to advance the field by enhancing the capacity for conducting research related to vulvodynia. In addition, the plan aims to apprise the research community of scientific goals for vulvodynia research and to foster collaborations among agencies and organizations interested in the topic.
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