Vestibulodynia: Understanding Pathophysiology and Determining Appropriate Treatments

Vestibulodynia (VBD) is a complex chronic vulvar pain condition that impairs the psychological, physical, and sexual health of 1 in 6 reproductive aged women in the United States. Here, the investigators plan to conduct a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial to 1) compare the efficacy of peripheral (lidocaine/estradiol cream), centrally-targeted (nortriptyline), and combined treatments in alleviating pain and improving patient-reported outcomes and 2) determine cytokine and microRNA biomarkers that predict treatment response in women with distinct VBD subtypes. Positive findings from this study will readily translate to improved patient care, permitting the millions of women with VBD, their partners, and their clinicians to make more informed decisions about pain management.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Back Pain; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Endometriosis; Interstitial Cystitis; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; Temporomandibular Disorder; Fibromyalgia Syndrome; Vestibulodynia; Migraines; Tension Headache
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: 5% lidocaine/5 mg/ml 0.02% estradiol compound cream; Drug: Placebo pill; Drug: Nortriptyline; Drug: Placebo cream

Detailed Description

Vestibulodynia (VBD) is a chronic pelvic pain condition that affects 1 in 6 reproductive aged women, yet remains ineffectively treated by standard trial-and-error approaches. The investigators have identified two distinct VBD subtypes that may benefit from different types of treatment: 1) VBD peripheral (VBD-p) subtype characterized by localized pain specific to the vulvar vestibule, and 2) VBD central (VBD-c) subtype characterized by pain at both vaginal and remote body regions. Preliminary data further demonstrate that VBD-p and VBD-c subtypes differ with respect to patient reported outcomes (e.g., physical and mental health), production of cytokines (intracellular proteins that regulate the activity of pain nerves and inflammatory processes), and expression of microRNAs (small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression). Women with VBD-p exhibit normal psychological profiles; balanced circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines; and dysregulation in microRNAs that regulate the expression of genes in estrogen pathways. In contrast, women with VBD-c report decreased functional status and increased somatization; increased pro-inflammatory but not anti-inflammatory cytokines; and dysregulation in microRNAs that regulate the expression of genes relevant to muscle, nerve, and immune cell function. Based on these data, the investigators hypothesize that two VBD-p and VBD-c subtypes will preferentially respond to peripheral, central, or combined treatments and can be distinguished by cytokine and microRNA profiles. These hypotheses will be tested in a phase III clinical trial that evaluates diverse treatment strategies in women with VBD-p and VBD-c. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four parallel arms: peripheral treatment with 5% lidocaine + 0.5 mg/ml 0.02% estradiol compound cream, 2) central treatment with the tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline, 3) combined peripheral and central treatments, or 4) placebo. The treatment phase will last 4 months (with a 6-week titration at treatment initiation and 2-week taper period at 4 months), with outcome measures and biomarkers assessed at 4 time points (0, 2, 4, and 6 months). First, the investigators will compare the efficacy of treatments in alleviating pain among women with VBD-p and VBD-c using standardized tampon insertion with a numeric rating scale and self-reported pain on the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Next, the investigators will compare the efficacy of treatments in improving perceived physical, mental, and sexual health among women with VBD-p and VBD-c using standardized questionnaires. Finally, investigators will measure cytokines and microRNAs in women with VBD-p versus VBD-c using multiplex assays and RNA sequencing, and determine the ability of these biomarkers to predict treatment response. Successful completion of the proposed work will provide new insights into the mechanisms that drive pain perception and treatment response in two distinct VBD subtypes, and determine the efficacy of peripheral, central, and combined therapies in reversing this pain. Such findings will readily translate to improved patient care, permitting the millions of women with VBD, their partners, and clinicians to make more informed decisions about pain management.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 209
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90095
      • University of California, Los Angeles
  • North Carolina
    • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27278
      • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years to 46 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria

1. Female
2. Age 18-50 years
3. English-literate
4. Willingness to provide informed consent

5. Meeting criteria for diagnosis of VBD based on:

   1. self-report of 3 continuous months of insertional (entryway) dyspareunia, and/or pain to touch/tampon insertion
   2. pain score of ≥ 3 on the tampon insertion test

Exclusion Criteria

1. Use of daily topical lidocaine, or estradiol, or lidocaine/estradiol to the vulvar vestibule within the past three months
2. Use of nortriptyline or other TCA medications within the past three months
3. Use of pregabalin or gabapentin within the past three months
4. Presence of active dermatologic vulvar disease or vaginal infection
5. Untreated atrophic vaginitis (participants may undergo treatment and re-evaluation for enrollment if the condition is resolved)
6. Previous vestibulectomy
7. Pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant during the study period. Within the first six months of the postpartum period. Currently breastfeeding/lactating, or within three months of discontinuing breastfeeding/lactation.
8. Active incarceration
9. Cancer within the past year.
10. Chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment within the past year.
11. Unstable medical condition (e.g., renal impairment, significant hematological disease, cardiovascular disease, hepatic insufficiency, neurological disorder, autoimmune disease, or respiratory illness)
12. Clear inflammatory states (e.g., morbid obesity)
13. Use of immunosuppressant medications
14. History of intolerance to nortriptyline, topical lidocaine, or topical estradiol
15. Contraindications to use of nortriptyline: current use, or use within the past 3 months, of MAOIs, SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs; recent (within the past year) myocardial infarction, active psychotic or suicidal thoughts, narrow angle closure glaucoma
16. Contraindications to the use of lidocaine or local anesthetics
17. Contraindications to the use of topical estrogen therapy
18. Post-menopausal, defined as no menses for 12 consecutive months or surgical removal of both ovaries. (Hysterectomy is not an exclusion)
19. Have not had Botox of the pelvic floor muscles in the last 12 months, or pelvic nerve blocks in the last three months.
20. Are not currently enrolled or planning to enroll in another clinical trial during the course of this trial.
21. Are not currently receiving pelvic physical therapy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: peripheral treatment; 5% lidocaine/5 mg/ml 0.02% estradiol compound cream	Drug: 5% lidocaine/5 mg/ml 0.02% estradiol compound cream; Lidocaine/estradiol cream targets peripheral nerves and tissues affected in VBD. Participants will be provided with a diagram and written instructions, detailing how to apply the cream to the vaginal vestibule daily for weeks 1-16. Treatment with lidocaine/estradiol or placebo cream will be terminated at week 16 (end of month 4).; Drug: Placebo pill; The comparison treatment will be an identical-appearing placebo pill
Active Comparator: central treatment; tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline pill	Drug: Nortriptyline; Nortriptyline is a centrally-acting tricyclic antidepressant that is FDA-approved for treatment of neuropathic pain. Dosing will begin with one 10 mg pill nightly for week 1, then two 10 mg pills nightly for week 2, three 10 mg pills nightly for week 3, four 10 mg pills nightly for week 4, and five for weeks 5 -16. Treatment with nortriptyline or placebo pill will be tapered off over weeks 16-18, decreasing the dose by 10 mg every 4 days. Participants will be provided with a list of drugs to avoid that are known to interact with nortriptyline.; Drug: Placebo cream; The comparison treatment will be an identical-appearing placebo Moisturel™ cream; Other Names: Moisturel cream
Active Comparator: combined peripheral and central treatments; 5% lidocaine/5 mg/ml 0.02% estradiol compound cream and tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline pill	Drug: 5% lidocaine/5 mg/ml 0.02% estradiol compound cream; Lidocaine/estradiol cream targets peripheral nerves and tissues affected in VBD. Participants will be provided with a diagram and written instructions, detailing how to apply the cream to the vaginal vestibule daily for weeks 1-16. Treatment with lidocaine/estradiol or placebo cream will be terminated at week 16 (end of month 4).; Drug: Nortriptyline; Nortriptyline is a centrally-acting tricyclic antidepressant that is FDA-approved for treatment of neuropathic pain. Dosing will begin with one 10 mg pill nightly for week 1, then two 10 mg pills nightly for week 2, three 10 mg pills nightly for week 3, four 10 mg pills nightly for week 4, and five for weeks 5 -16. Treatment with nortriptyline or placebo pill will be tapered off over weeks 16-18, decreasing the dose by 10 mg every 4 days. Participants will be provided with a list of drugs to avoid that are known to interact with nortriptyline.
Placebo Comparator: placebo; placebo cream and placebo pill	Drug: Placebo pill; The comparison treatment will be an identical-appearing placebo pill; Drug: Placebo cream; The comparison treatment will be an identical-appearing placebo Moisturel™ cream; Other Names: Moisturel cream

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain Score During the Tampon Test	The Tampon Test will provide a self-reported numeric rating scale of pain with self-tampon insertion, performed by the patient and reported to the research nurse. Participants will be asked to verbally rate the pain on a scale of 0-10, with 0 meaning no pain and 10 meaning the worst possible pain.	Baseline, 16 weeks
Change in Self-reported Pain Via the Short Form- McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ)	The SF-MPQ consists of 15 descriptors which are rated on an intensity scale as 0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate or 3 = severe. The total score ranges from 0 to 45, where a higher score indicates greater pain. A negative change score indicates a decrease in pain over time.	Baseline, 16 weeks
Self-reported Physical Health Via SF-12 Health Survey (SF12v2)	The SF-12 physical health score has a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10 in the general population. Scores above 50 indicate a better-than-average health-related quality of life, while scores below 50 suggest below-average health.	Prior to randomization
Self-reported Mental Health Via SF-12 Health Survey (SF12v2)	The SF-12 mental health score has a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10 in the general population. Scores above 50 indicate a better-than-average health-related quality of life, while scores below 50 suggest below-average health.	Prior to randomization
Sexual Health Via Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)	The PROMIS score is based on a 96-item form developed by the NIH that measures 11 domains of biopsychosocial function and includes an assessment of sexual function measures (e.g., desire, frequency, fear, and pain) related to sexual intercourse. The PROMIS Sexual Function and Satisfaction (SexFS) measures produce a T-score that summarizes a person's sexual health. The T-score is a standardized score that ranges from 0 to 100, where 50 indicates the population mean with a standard deviation of 10. Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction.	Baseline, 16 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Pain Level as Measured by Vaginal Vestibule Pressure Pain Intensities (PPI)	Vaginal Vestibule PPIs will be determined using a cotton swab applied to externally-accessed sites (at 10, 6, and 2 o'clock on the vestibule) for 1-2 seconds. Upon application of cotton swab at each site, participants will rate their pain intensity on a scale from 0-10, where 0 = no pain and 10 = the worst pain possible. Reported as a composite mean score.	Baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks
Change in Levator Muscle Complex Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT)	Levator Muscle Complex PPTs will be determined using a digital vestibular algometer applied internally to the left puborectalis levator muscles site (7 o'clock) just lateral to the perineum. The test determines the amount of pressure over a given area in which a steadily increasing nonpainful pressure stimulus turns into a painful pressure sensation.	Baseline, 16 weeks
Change in Pain Level as Measured by Remote Bodily PPTs	Remote Bodily PPTs will be determined by applying the algometer to 3 'neutral' non-pelvic body sites (deltoid, shin, and trapezius), right and left, beginning at 1N and increasing until the participant's first sensation of pain. PPT scores are rated on a scale of 0-10, where 0 meaning no pain and 10 meaning the worst pain possible. Reported as a composite mean score.	Baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks
Somatic Awareness Via Pennebaker Index of Limbic Languidness (PILL)	Pennebaker Index of Limbic Languidness (PILL) is used to create a summary score of somatic symptoms (e.g., itchy eyes, dizziness). Symptom frequency is recorded on a five-point Likert scale ranging from "never" (0) to "more than once a week" (4). The total score ranges from 0 to 216, where greater scores indicate greater frequency of symptoms.	Baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks
Change in Sleep as Measured by the Sleep Scale	The sleep scale is a 12-item scale that measures amount of sleep and ease/difficulty of initiating and maintaining sleep.	Baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 24 weeks
Change in Perceived Stress Via Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)	The Perceived stress scale (PSS) is a 10-item scale that measures the impact of personal stress on thoughts and feelings.	Baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 24 weeks
Change in Mood as Measured by the Symptom Checklist-27 (SCL-27)	Symptom Check List 27 (SCL-27) questionnaire will be used to measure a broad range of psychological symptoms (e.g., anxiety and depression).	Baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 24 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Inflammation as Measured by Cytokine Expression Levels	Cytokine expression levels will be measured via mesoscale discovery assays.	Baseline, 16 weeks
Change in Cytokine Biomarkers at Other Time Points	Change in cytokine levels will be measured as described above.	8 weeks and 24 weeks
Change in microRNA Biomarkers at Other Time Points	Change in microRNA levels will be measured as described above.	8 weeks and 24 weeks
Change in Regulators of Pro-pain and Pro-inflammatory Genes, as Measured by microRNA Expression Levels	MicroRNA expression levels will be measured via sequencing read.	Baseline, 16 weeks
Change in Degree of Overlapping Pain, as Measured by COPC (Chronic Overlapping Pain Condition) Survey - Headaches	Participants reported the change from previous timepoint in the degree of overlapping pain. Response options were: A Great Deal Worse, Moderately Worse, A Little Worse, No Change, A Little Better, Moderately Better, or A Great Deal Better.	Baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 24 weeks
Change in Degree of Overlapping Pain, as Measured by COPC (Chronic Overlapping Pain Condition) Survey - Widespread Pain	Participants reported the change from previous timepoint in the degree of overlapping pain. Response options were: A Great Deal Worse, Moderately Worse, A Little Worse, No Change, A Little Better, Moderately Better, or A Great Deal Better.	Baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 24 weeks
Change in Degree of Overlapping Pain, as Measured by COPC (Chronic Overlapping Pain Condition) Survey - Orofacial Pain	Participants reported the change from previous timepoint in the degree of overlapping pain. Response options were: A Great Deal Worse, Moderately Worse, A Little Worse, No Change, A Little Better, Moderately Better, or A Great Deal Better.	Baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 24 weeks
Change in Degree of Overlapping Pain, as Measured by COPC (Chronic Overlapping Pain Condition) Survey - Back Pain	Participants reported the change from previous timepoint in the degree of overlapping pain. Response options were: A Great Deal Worse, Moderately Worse, A Little Worse, No Change, A Little Better, Moderately Better, or A Great Deal Better.	Baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 24 weeks
Change in Degree of Overlapping Pain, as Measured by COPC (Chronic Overlapping Pain Condition) Survey - Abdominal Pain	Participants reported the change from previous timepoint in the degree of overlapping pain. Response options were: A Great Deal Worse, Moderately Worse, A Little Worse, No Change, A Little Better, Moderately Better, or A Great Deal Better.	Baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 24 weeks
Change in Degree of Overlapping Pain, as Measured by COPC (Chronic Overlapping Pain Condition) Survey - Bladder Pain	Participants reported the change from previous timepoint in the degree of overlapping pain. Response options were: A Great Deal Worse, Moderately Worse, A Little Worse, No Change, A Little Better, Moderately Better, or A Great Deal Better.	Baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 24 weeks
Change in Degree of Overlapping Pain, as Measured by COPC (Chronic Overlapping Pain Condition) Survey - Menstrual Pain	Participants reported the change from previous timepoint in the degree of overlapping pain. Response options were: A Great Deal Worse, Moderately Worse, A Little Worse, No Change, A Little Better, Moderately Better, or A Great Deal Better.	Baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 24 weeks
Change in Degree of Overlapping Pain, as Measured by COPC (Chronic Overlapping Pain Condition) Survey - Fatigue	Participants reported the change from previous timepoint in the degree of overlapping pain. Response options were: A Great Deal Worse, Moderately Worse, A Little Worse, No Change, A Little Better, Moderately Better, or A Great Deal Better.	Baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 24 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Duke University
• Collaborators: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Andrea Nackley, PhD, Duke University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Carey ET, Geller EJ, Rapkin A, Farb D, Cutting H, Akaninwor J, Stirling C, Bortsov A, McNulty S, Merrill P, Zakroysky P, DeLaRosa J, Luo S, Nackley AG. Rationale and design of a multicenter randomized clinical trial of vestibulodynia: understanding pathophysiology and determining appropriate treatments (vestibulodynia: UPDATe). Ann Med. 2022 Dec;54(1):2885-2897. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2132531.

Helpful Links

• VBD UPDATe study website

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 4, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 13, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): May 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 15, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 15, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): February 18, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 19, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Chronic pain; Pelvic pain; Lidocaine; Estradiol; Nortriptyline
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neuroinflammatory Diseases; Urogenital Diseases; Genital Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Stomatognathic Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Male Urogenital Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Encephalomyelitis; Neuromuscular Diseases; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Joint Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Intestinal Diseases; Jaw Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Genital Diseases, Female; Headache Disorders, Primary; Headache Disorders; Colonic Diseases; Mandibular Diseases; Colonic Diseases, Functional; Urinary Bladder Diseases; Vulvar Diseases; Craniomandibular Disorders; Cystitis; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Back Pain; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Migraine Disorders; Fibromyalgia; Chronic Pain; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders; Endometriosis; Pelvic Pain; Vulvodynia; Cystitis, Interstitial; Tension-Type Headache; Organic Chemicals; Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; Polycyclic Compounds; Dibenzocycloheptenes; Benzocycloheptenes; Nortriptyline
• Other Study ID Numbers: Pro00100678; 1R01HD096331-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: The investigators will share data in a manner consistent with NIH's policy NOT-OD-14-124, found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-14-124.html, released August 28, 2014. Genotypic data (e.g. microRNA and protein expression) and relevant phenotypic data (e.g. pain scores) from 400 participants will be posted on the dbGaP website.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: The PI expects data release up to 6 months after data submission is initiated or at the time of acceptance of initial publication, whichever occurs first.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Requests to download individual unit-record datasets should be submitted to the PI and require approval from a Data Access Committee convened by the NIH/NICHD.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No