The draft Research Plan on Vulvodynia (PDF - 681 KB) is now available for public comment. Those who have comments can e-mail them directly to NICHDVulvodynia@mail.nih.gov.
Vulvodynia is the term used to describe chronic pain or discomfort of the vulva. Scientific evidence to help assess causes, possible triggers, prevention, and treatment is lacking, and research efforts need to be expanded to answer questions about the condition.
To ensure maximum coordination of research efforts and to eliminate any duplication or overlap of activities, the NICHD collaborated with other federal, private, and non-profit agencies and researchers to create the Research Plan on Vulvodynia. The Plan lays out an agenda for the rigorous scientific research needed to answer questions and fill in knowledge gaps about vulvodynia.
The Plan not only builds upon ongoing vulvodynia research supported by the NIH and other agencies and organizations, but also seeks to advance the field by enhancing capacity for conducting research related to vulvodynia. In addition, the plan aims to keep the research community apprised of scientific goals for vulvodynia research and to foster collaborations among agencies and organizations interested in the topic.
The period for public comment ends on February 3, 2012.
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About the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
The NICHD sponsors research on development, before and after birth; maternal, child, and family health; reproductive biology and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information, visit the Institute’s Web site at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/.
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