Assessing sexual function and dyspareunia with the female sexual function index (FSFI) in women with vulvodynia

Using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI; Rosen et al., 2000), we assessed forty-two, women with vulvodynia. Internal consistency was high (Cronbach's alphas = 0.90-0.97)for all scales. We compared scale scores to published healthy and patient sample data and found very large effect sizes (1.15-2.83), which indicated that women with vulvodynia reported significantly worse overall sexual functional than women without sexual dysfunction and greater pain with sexual intercourse than women with female sexual arousal disorder. Results highlight difficulties experienced across all domains of sexual function, particularly with regard to dyspareunia, for women with vulvodynia. Findings also support the internal consistency and discriminant validity of the FSFI.