| Study/ Year | Study Design | Subject Sources/ Diagnosis | Treatment of Interest | Treatment Frequency | Number of Subjects | Outcome Measures | Follow-Up | Results |
| Reference [1] /1999 | Quasiexperimental. No blinding, control group(s), or randomization | Vulval clinic/ vulvodynia | Acupuncture Spleen meridian points 6 & 9, liver meridian point 3, large intestine meridian point 4 | Once weekly for 10 weeks | 12 women aged 18 - 68 years; all completed treatment | VAS pain score (range not given) and adapted QOL questionnaire scores | 5 weeks after last treatment session | Three groups of subject response: good, short-term, and non-responders |
| Reference [17] /2001 | Quasiexperimental. No blinding, control group(s), or randomization | Adolescent health center/ vestibulitis | Acupuncture 4 local and 2 distal points were always used, an additional 2 - 5 points couldalso be used | Once or twice weekly for 10 treatments in total | 14 women aged 19 - 26 years; 13 completed treatment | VAS pain score of 0-10, negative/positive QOL questionnaire | 11 subjects at 3 months after last treatment session | Statistically significant changes to negative and positive QOL factors p = 0.01 and p = 0.001 |
| Reference [3] /2009 | Quasiexperimental No blinding, control group(s), or randomization | Gynecology clinic /provoked vestibulodynia | Acupuncture 10-20 points from the forehead to the knees | Twice weekly for 10 treatments in 5 weeks | 8 women aged 21 - 49 years. Mean age 30 years. | FSFI, PCS, PVAQ, and investigator developed pain report | None | Statistically significant improvement in pain with manual genital stimulation on the FSFI, p = 0.05 |
| Reference [12] /1995 | Quasiexperimental No blinding, control group(s), or randomization | Vulval clinic/vulvar vestibulitis | EMG biofeedback In-home pelvic floor muscle exercises with vaginal sensor, portable EMG biofeedback instrument, computerized EMG data acquisition | Twice daily for an average of 16 weeks | 33women aged 21 - 45 years. Mean age 31.5 years. | Subjective pain scale of 0-10, frequency of coitus, EMG amplitude for contraction, relaxation, and rest periods | 6 months | Decreased resting pelvic muscle tension and instability by 68% and 62%. Decreased subjective pain by 83%. Coitus resumed by 78% of abstainers |
| Reference [8] /2001 | Block randomization. Non-blinded. Control groups of group cognitive behavior therapy, vestibulectomy | Media advertisement and referrals/ dyspareunia due to vulvar vestibulitis | EMG biofeedback In-home pelvic floor muscle exercises with vaginal sensor, portable EMG home trainer, computerized EMG data acquisition | Twice daily for 12 weeks | 29 per group. Mean age 26.8 years. Total of 9 subjects overall discontinued | PRI and sensory scales of the McGill Pain Questionnaire, frequency of coitus, Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory, Brief Symptom Inventory | 6 months | Intention-to-treat analysis statistically significant pain reduction in each group, greatest in vestibulectomy group. |
| Reference [22] /2001 | Quasiexperimental No blinding, control group(s), or randomization | Clinic/vulvar vestibulitis | EMG biofeedback In-home pelvic floor muscle exercises with vaginal sensor, portable EMG home trainer, computerized EMG data acquisition | Twice daily for 11 months | 29 women aged 25 - 48 years | Subjective pain scale of 0 - 10 for assessment of dyspareunia. EMG amplitude for contraction and relaxation | None | Significant decrease in pain for 84.7% of subjects. Coitus resumed by 69% of subjects |
| Reference [23] /2006 | Joint computer generated randomization, control group given 2% topical lidocaine gel and 5% lidocaine ointment | Two vulvar clinics/vulvar vestibulitis | EMG biofeedback In-home pelvic floor muscle exercises with vaginal sensor, portable EMG home trainer, computerized EMG data acquisition | Twice daily for 4 months | 23 women per group | Negative/positive QOL questionnaire, PRIME MD, Short Form 36, VAS 0 - 100 pain scale, Vulvar pressure pain threshold measured by vulvar algesiometer calibrated for 3 - 1000 grams force | 6 and 12 months | Equivalent improvement in vestibular pressure pain thresholds, QOL, and coitus were achieved by each treatment group. |