Principal Investigator Slawomir Wojniusz

PhD Student Kristine G. Danielsen 

Collaborators Mette Bøymo Kaarbø (Oslo University Hospital), Karen Synne Groven (VID Specialized University; Oslo Metropolitan University), Tarjei Langseth Rystad (Oslo Metropolitan University), Cecilie Therese Hagemann (Norwegian University of Science and technology), Susan Saga (Norwegian University of Science and technology), Signe Nilsen Stafne (Norwegian University of Science and technology), Madeleine Lyngmo Johansen

Somatocognitive therapy in treatment of provoked localized vestibulodynia – the ProLove study. Vestibulodynia is a common condition affecting 8-12% of women of reproductive age. The main symptom is a sharp pain occurring during intercourse or when pressure is applied to the vaginal opening. Vestibulodynia is a complex and not fully understood condition. Physiotherapy is commonly recommended conservative treatment for PVD.

In this project, we are investigating the effectiveness of somatocognitive physiotherapy compared to standard treatment in a randomized controlled trial. We plan to include 130 patients between the ages of 18 and 35 in the study. Half of the participants will receive the standard treatment recommended by the Vulva Clinic at Oslo University Hospital, while the other half will undergo somatocognitive physiotherapy.

The FSFI validation study The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) is a widely used 19-item questionnaire designed to assess female sexual function over the past four weeks. It evaluates six key domains: sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Each domain is scored individually, and the total score helps identify potential sexual dysfunction. The FSFI is used in both clinical and research settings to measure sexual health and assess the effectiveness of treatments for sexual dysfunction in women. We are conducting a content validity study of the FSFI for women with provoked vulvodynia (PVD). Additionally, we plan to propose and validate a PVD-adapted FSFI version and develop an alternative tool for measuring sexual functioning in women that incorporates dimensions beyond those included in the original FSFI. Furthermore, we aim to validate the Norwegian version of the FSFI in a healthy population.