Objectives: To examine how fear-avoidance influences vulvovaginal pain and sexual function over time.
Method: At baseline and at 10-month follow-up, self-report measures for sexual- and fear avoidance factors were obtained from 483 female university students with and without self-reported vulvovaginal pain.
Results: individuals with pain at both times reported lower sexual function, and higher levels of fear-avoidance compared to the pain-free group. Fear-avoidance beliefs predicted the occurrence of vulvovaginal pain at follow up and the level of pain intensity.
Conclusion: The results points to the relevance of the components of the fear-avoidance model in vulvovaginal pain over time.