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Objectives: The objectives were to evaluate associations between size of excision, grade of VIN, demographic variables, location of excision and laterality and sexual function and quality of life (QOL) in women with vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) following vulvar excision., Methods: Forty-three women with VIN who had undergone a vulvar excision completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 (QLQ C-30) scale to provide an assessment of sexual function and QOL. Medical records of the participants were reviewed for pathology results, operative reports, and medication history. Correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed to determine associations between collected variables and sexual function and QOL scores., Results: Most participants (n=43) were Caucasian (76.6%) and smoked (69.8%). Age significantly correlated with FSFI total score (Pearson r=-.470, p=.001), along with size of excision (r=-.412, p=.009). Neither VIN grade, location of excision, nor time since excision correlated with sexual function or QOL., Conclusions: Older age and a more extensive vulvar excision were associated with poorer sexual function and QOL in women following surgical treatment for VIN. Further study with a larger sample and additional variables is needed to better understand the effect of vulvar excision on women's sexual function and QOL.

Objective: To compare sexualfunction and quality of life (QOL) in women with vulvar excision for vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) with those in an age-matched, healthy comparison group., Study Design: This cross-sectional study contrasted women (n = 43) after vulvar excision for VIN with a healthy comparison group (n = 43). Participants were asked to complete the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 to provide an assessment of sexual function and quality of life. Medical records of the participants were reviewed for pathology results, operative reports and medication history. Women with VIN were age matched +/- 2 years with healthy women attending a breast screening clinic., Results: Most participants were Caucasian (76.6%) and smoked (69.8%). Women after excision had poorer scores in sexual function (p = 0.015) and QOL (p = 0.003) than healthy women., Conclusion: Impairment of sexual function after vulvar excision for VIN appears to be of the psychologic domain, providing hope that counseling can have a meaningful impact for these women.