International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease

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The International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD) is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1970 at the Sixth World Congress of the International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FIGO) in New York City. It is composed of health care professionals from different areas, including, gynecologists, dermatologists, general practitioners, physiotherapist, nurse practitioners, etc. devoted to the study, investigation, and treatment of vulvovaginal diseases.

Contents

The ISSVD regularly promotes and develops terminology, classification, and guidelines concerning these conditions. These include, among others: vulvar dermatosis (lichen sclerosus, lichen planus), [1] [2] vulvar pain (vulvodynia), [3] [4] [5] vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, [6] etc. More recently, a guideline concerning female cosmetic genital surgery was published. [7]

Presidents and world congresses

PRESIDENTS and WORLD CONGRESSES of the ISSVD
CONGRESSLOCATIONCity/ProvinceDATESPRESIDENT
ISPAINMarbelcaAug. 8, 1973Dr. Guillermo R. di Paola
IIUSAKey BiscayneJan. 9–11, 1975Dr. J. Donald Woodruff
IIIMEXICOCocoyocOct. 22–24, 1976Dr. Herman L. Gardner
IVFRANCEMontbazonMay 2–25, 1978Dr. Jean Hewitt
VUSAMauiOct. 21–23, 1979Dr. Raymond H. Kaufman
VIENGLANDCambridgeSept. 22–24, 1981Dr. Charles P. Douglas
VIIUSALake Buena VistaSept. 25–29,1983Dr. Eduard G. Friedrich
VIIIFINLANDMariehamnSept. 9–12, 1985Dr. Peter J. Lynch
IXAUSTRALIAQueenslandAug. 30–Sept 3, 1987Dr. Barry L. Kneale
XUSAWashington, DCOct. 22–26, 1989Dr. Edward J. Wilkinson
XIENGLANDOxfordSept. 22–26, 1991Dr. C. Marjorie Ridley
XIICANADAQuebecSept. 26–30, 1993Dr. Michel Roy
XIIIARGENTINAIguazuSept. 17–20, 1995Dr. Nidia Gomez Rueda
XIVITALYBavenoSept. 14–20, 1997Dr. Dale Brown, Jr.
XVUSASanta Fe, New MexicoSept. 26–Oct. 2, 1999Dr. Mario Sideri
XVIPORTUGALSintra/PortoSept. 30–Oct. 6, 2001Dr. Marilynne McKay
XVIIBRAZILSalvadorOct. 12–16, 2003Dr. Jose Martinez de Oliveira
XVIIINEW ZEALANDQueenstownFeb. 20–24, 2006Dr. Ronald W. Jones
XIXALASKAInside Passage CruiseJuly 28– Aug. 3, 2007Dr. Libby Edwards
XXSCOTLANDEdinburghSept. 13–17, 2009Dr. Allan B. MacLean
XXIFRANCEParisSept. 5–8, 2011Dr. Micheline Moyal-Barracco
XXIIROYAL CARIBBEANMediterraneanOct. 6–13, 2013Dr. Jacob Bornstein
XXIIINEW YORKNew YorkJuly 27–29, 2015Dr. Hope Haefner
XXIVARGENTINAMendozaSeptember 11–15, 2017Dr. Claudia Marchitelli
XXVITALYTorinoSeptember 16–20, 2019Dr. Mario Preti
XXVIIRELANDDublinJuly, 15-20, 2022Dr. Colleen K. Stockdale

Terminology, classification, and guidelines

YearDocument
2005The vulvodynia guideline
20062006 ISSVD classification of vulvar dermatoses: pathologic subsets and their clinical correlates
20112011 ISSVD Terminology and classification of vulvar dermatological disorders: an approach to clinical diagnosis
20132013 Vulvodynia Guideline update
2015The 2015 International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD) Terminology of Vulvar Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions
20152015 ISSVD, ISSWSH, and IPPS Consensus Terminology and Classification of Persistent Vulvar Pain and Vulvodynia
2018International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease Recommendations Regarding Female Cosmetic Genital Surgery [8]
2021The International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease Vaginal Wet Mount Microscopy Guidelines: How to Perform, Applications, and Interpretation

Related Research Articles

Vulvodynia is a chronic pain condition that affects the vulvar area and occurs without an identifiable cause. Symptoms typically include a feeling of burning or irritation. It has been established by the ISSVD that for the diagnosis to be made symptoms must last at least three months.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bartholin's gland</span> Mucous glands located near the vaginal opening

The Bartholin's glands are two pea-sized compound alveolar glands located slightly posterior and to the left and right of the opening of the vagina. They secrete mucus to lubricate the vagina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colposcopy</span> Medical examination of the cervix

Colposcopy is a medical diagnostic procedure to visually examine the cervix as well as the vagina and vulva using a colposcope.

Dyspareunia is painful sexual intercourse due to medical or psychological causes. The term dyspareunia covers both female dyspareunia and male dyspareunia, but many discussions that use the term without further specification concern the female type, which is more common than the male type. In females, the pain can primarily be on the external surface of the genitalia, or deeper in the pelvis upon deep pressure against the cervix. Medically, dyspareunia is a pelvic floor dysfunction and is frequently underdiagnosed. It can affect a small portion of the vulva or vagina or be felt all over the surface. Understanding the duration, location, and nature of the pain is important in identifying the causes of the pain.

Vaginitis, also known as vulvovaginitis, is inflammation of the vagina and vulva. Symptoms may include itching, burning, pain, discharge, and a bad smell. Certain types of vaginitis may result in complications during pregnancy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lichen sclerosus</span> Itchy skin rash usually affecting the genitals

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease of unknown cause which can affect any body part of any person but has a strong preference for the genitals and is also known as balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO) when it affects the penis. Lichen sclerosus is not contagious. There is a well-documented increase of skin cancer risk in LS, potentially improvable with treatment. LS in adult age women is normally incurable, but improvable with treatment, and often gets progressively worse if not treated properly. Most males with mild or intermediate disease restricted to foreskin or glans can be cured by either medical or surgical treatment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seborrheic keratosis</span> Skin disease

A seborrheic keratosis is a non-cancerous (benign) skin tumour that originates from cells, namely keratinocytes, in the outer layer of the skin called the epidermis. Like liver spots, seborrheic keratoses are seen more often as people age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia</span> Medical condition

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), also known as cervical dysplasia, is the abnormal growth of cells on the surface of the cervix that could potentially lead to cervical cancer. More specifically, CIN refers to the potentially precancerous transformation of cells of the cervix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vulval vestibule</span> Part of the vulva that contains the openings

The vulval vestibule is the part of the vulva between the labia minora. On the inside, the urinary meatus and the vaginal opening open to the vestibule, while the outer edge is marked by Hart's line, named after David Berry Hart.

Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS), vestibulodynia, or simply vulvar vestibulitis, is vulvodynia localized to the vulvar vestibule. It tends to be associated with a highly localized "burning" or "cutting" type of pain. Until recently, "vulvar vestibulitis" was the term used for localized vulvar pain: the suffix "-itis" would normally imply inflammation, but in fact there is little evidence to support an inflammatory process in the condition. "Vestibulodynia" is the term now recognized by the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vulvar cancer</span> Cancer involving the vulva

Vulvar cancer is a cancer of the vulva, the outer portion of the female genitals. It most commonly affects the labia majora. Less often, the labia minora, clitoris, or Bartholin's glands are affected. Symptoms include a lump, itchiness, changes in the skin, or bleeding from the vulva.

Mucosal melanoma is a rare condition characterized by a melanoma of the mucous membranes. This subtype is associated a worse prognosis than those arising from the skin. Mucosal melanomas occur in the head and neck (55%), anorectal (24%) and vulvovaginal region (18%), and in the urinary tract (3%). Based on the histopathologic and clinical features, melanomas of the vulva and vagina are often considered a separate disease entity. The prognosis of vulvovaginal melanomas is poor, especially for vaginal melanomas and has not improved over the last decades. While chemotherapy has not shown capacity to improve survival in clinical and observational studies, immune checkpoint inhibitors have been tested in mucosal melanomas and have shown promising response rates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lipschütz ulcer</span> Medical condition

Lipschütz ulcer,ulcus vulvae acutum or reactive non-sexually related acute genital ulcers is a rare disease characterized by painful genital ulcers, fever, and lymphadenopathy, occurring most commonly, but not exclusively, in adolescents and young women. Previously, it was described as being more common in virgins. It is not a sexually transmitted infection, and is often misdiagnosed, sometimes as a symptom of Behçet's disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vulva</span> External genitalia of the female mammal

In mammals, the vulva consists of the external female genitalia. The human vulva includes the mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, vulval vestibule, urinary meatus, the vaginal opening, hymen, and Bartholin's and Skene's vestibular glands. The urinary meatus is also included as it opens into the vulval vestibule. The vulva includes the entrance to the vagina, which leads to the uterus, and provides a double layer of protection for this by the folds of the outer and inner labia. Pelvic floor muscles support the structures of the vulva. Other muscles of the urogenital triangle also give support.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hereditary mucoepithelial dysplasia</span> Medical condition

Hereditary mucoepithelial dysplasia (HMD), or simply mucoepithelial dysplasia, is a rare autosomal dominant multiepithelial disorder causing systemic maldevelopment of the epithelia and mucous membranes that line the surface of tissues and structures throughout the body, particularly affecting systems affiliated with mucosa, which includes the respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive and immune systems. The disorder is attributed to improper formation of desmosomes and gap junctions, which prevents proper cornification of the epithelial layer of the skin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ospemifene</span> Chemical compound

Ospemifene is an oral medication indicated for the treatment of dyspareunia – pain during sexual intercourse – encountered by some women, more often in those who are post-menopausal. Ospemifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) acting similarly to an estrogen on the vaginal epithelium, building vaginal wall thickness which in turn reduces the pain associated with dyspareunia. Dyspareunia is most commonly caused by "vulvar and vaginal atrophy."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bartholin gland carcinoma</span> Medical condition

Bartholin gland carcinoma is a type of cancer of the vulva arising in the Bartholin gland. It typically presents with a painless mass at one side of the vaginal opening in a female of middle-age and older, and can appear similar to a Bartholin cyst. The mass may be big or small, may be deep under skin or appear nearer the surface with overlying ulceration. Average age at presentation is 53-years.

A vestibulectomy is a gynecological surgical procedure that can be used to treat vulvar pain, specifically in cases of provoked vestibulodynia. Vestibulodynia is a chronic pain syndrome that is a subtype of localized vulvodynia where chronic pain and irritation is present in the vulval vestibule, which is near the entrance of the vagina. Vestibulectomy may be partial or complete.

Vaginal melanoma is a rare malignancy that originates from melanocytes in the vaginal epithelium. It is also known as a melanocytic tumor or as a malignant melanoma. It is aggressive and infrequently cured. The median overall survival is 16 months. Vaginal melanoma accounts 5.5% of all vaginal cancers and only 1% of all melanomas diagnosed in women. Vaginal melanomas are frequently diagnosed in advanced stages of the disease. The prognosis is poor and the most important risk factor is the presence of lymph node metastases.

References

  1. Lynch, Peter J.; Moyal-Barracco, Micheline; Moyal-Barrocco, Micheline; Bogliatto, Fabrizio; Micheletti, Leonardo; Scurry, James (January 2007). "2006 ISSVD classification of vulvar dermatoses: pathologic subsets and their clinical correlates". The Journal of Reproductive Medicine. 52 (1): 3–9. ISSN   0024-7758. PMID   17286059.
  2. Lynch, Peter J.; Moyal-Barracco, Micheline; Scurry, James; Stockdale, Colleen (October 2012). "2011 ISSVD Terminology and Classification of Vulvar Dermatological Disorders". Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease. 16 (4): 339–344. doi:10.1097/lgt.0b013e3182494e8c. ISSN   1089-2591. PMID   22622341. S2CID   2123775.
  3. Stockdale, Colleen K.; Lawson, Herschel W. (April 2014). "2013 Vulvodynia Guideline Update". Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease. 18 (2): 93–100. doi:10.1097/lgt.0000000000000021. ISSN   1089-2591. PMID   24633161. S2CID   410660.
  4. Haefner, Hope K.; Collins, Michael E.; Davis, Gordon D.; Edwards, Libby; Foster, David C.; Hartmann, Elizabeth Dee Heaton; Kaufman, Raymond H.; Lynch, Peter J.; Margesson, Lynette J. (January 2005). "The vulvodynia guideline". Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease. 9 (1): 40–51. doi: 10.1097/00128360-200501000-00009 . ISSN   1089-2591. PMID   15870521. S2CID   18081230.
  5. "Qu'est-ce que la vulvodynie, ce trouble qui touche de nombreuses femmes ?". RTL.fr (in French). Retrieved 2018-07-24.
  6. Bornstein, Jacob; Bogliatto, Fabrizio; Haefner, Hope K.; Stockdale, Colleen K.; Preti, Mario; Bohl, Tanja G.; Reutter, Jason (January 2016). "The 2015 International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD) Terminology of Vulvar Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions". Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease. 20 (1): 11–14. doi:10.1097/lgt.0000000000000169. ISSN   1089-2591. PMID   26704327.
  7. Vieira-Baptista, Pedro; Almeida, Gutemberg; Bogliatto, Fabrizio; Bohl, Tanja Gizela; Burger, Matthé; Cohen-Sacher, Bina; Gibbon, Karen; Goldstein, Andrew; Heller, Debra (July 2018). "International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease Recommendations Regarding Female Cosmetic Genital Surgery". Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease. 22 (4): 415–434. doi:10.1097/lgt.0000000000000412. ISSN   1526-0976. PMID   29994815. S2CID   51613481.
  8. Vieira-Baptista, Pedro; Almeida, Gutemberg; Bogliatto, Fabrizio; Bohl, Tanja Gizela; Burger, Matthé; Cohen-Sacher, Bina; Gibbon, Karen; Goldstein, Andrew; Heller, Debra; Likes, Wendy; Longo da Silva, Celene; Marchitelli, Claudia; Moyal-Barracco, Micheline; Posey, Kathleen; Sluga, Maria Celeste (October 2018). "International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease Recommendations Regarding Female Cosmetic Genital Surgery". Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease. 22 (4): 415–434. doi:10.1097/LGT.0000000000000412. ISSN   1526-0976. PMID   29994815. S2CID   51613481.