Introduction: Vulvodynia is a long-term pain in the vulva area which has a negative impact on the emotional and psychological status of women, sexual function and quality of life.

Aim: To present the physiotherapy approach in vulvodynia.

Materials and methods: A 24 - year old woman with vulvodynia is presented. The physiotherapy assessment included assessment of posture, muscle strength through a manual muscle test, pain intensity using the Numeric Pain Scale, sexual function according to the Female Sexual Function Inventory and quality of life according to the SF-36 Questionnaire. Physiotherapy intervention was based on stretching exercises, breathing exercises and pelvic floor muscle training.

Results: The patient reports an improvement and decrease in the intensity of pain due to vulvodynia, an increase in desire, arousal and orgasm and a decrease in the patient’s sexual dysfunction. Also, there is an increase in physical functioning, emotional well-being, social functioning, general health and patients’ quality of life.

Conclusion: This is a report of a rare and unusual case of vulvodynia in a young woman. Physiotherapy contributes to reducing the symptoms of vulvodynia, but considering the complexity of the problem, it is essential teamwork.

Key words: physiotherapy assessment, physiotherapy intervention, vulvodynia

Uvod: Vulvodinija je dugotrajna bol u području vulve koja negativno utječe na emocionalni i psihički status žene, spolnu funkciju i kvalitetu života.

Cilj: Prikazati fizioterapijski pristup vulvodiniji.

Materijali i metode: Prikazana je 24-godišnja žena s vulvodinijom. Fizioterapijska procjena uključivala je procjenu posture, mišićne snage manualnim mišićnim testom, intenziteta boli pomoću numeričke ljestvice boli, spolne funkcije prema Female Sexual Function Inventory i kvalitete života prema SF-36 upitniku. Fizioterapijska intervencija temeljila se na vježbama istezanja, vježbama disanja i treningu mišića zdjeličnog dna.

Rezultati: Pacijentica upućuje na smanjenje intenziteta boli zbog vulvodinije, povećanje želje, uzbuđenja i orgazma te smanjenje seksualne disfunkcije. Također, dolazi do povećanja tjelesnog funkcioniranja, emocionalnog blagostanja, socijalnog funkcioniranja, općeg zdravlja i kvalitete života pacijentice.

Zaključak: Rad prikazuje rijedak i neobičnan slučaj vulvodinije kod mlade žene. Fizioterapija pridonosi smanjenju simptoma vulvodinije, ali s obzirom na složenost problematike, neophodan je timski rad.

Ključne riječi: fizioterapijska procjena, fizioterapijska intervencija, vulvodinija