Re:swab test rant

[Guest guest]

Ive always been skeptical of the swab test, the

" touching " of a swab on the supposed areas that

vestibulitis sufferers expereince pain.

Now I know why.

I found a very interesting article on a study which

attempted to discover the prevalence of vv in the

general population. They decided to use the swab test

as part of their criterion. Im not surprised they found

this:not everyone who experienced discomfort with the

swab test had vestibulitis, but everyone with

vestibulitis experienced pain with the swab test.

Hmmm.

You know why else I am skeptical of the swab test? Here

is the method they described: touching, merely

touching, without scraping. Makes sense,right?

Want to know whay my specialist did? He jabbed it in

there pretty good WHILE ROTATING IT.

If the swab test is to mean jack diddely, then it would

sure help if the method used was consistent. I have

read the swab test described as mere contact or gentle

pressure. If everyone is going to pretend this is all

so very important and scientific, I propose they

distinguish between " touching " " Pressure " and " Jab and

twist " . Call me crazy.

However, the article and its study are very interesting

indeed. I would recommend it to anyone who doesnt mind

reading some more depressing statistics.

Whats interesting is that a significant portion of the

women in the study with vestibulitis had a relative

with simliar symptoms. Of course you can tell they were

not always sure as the relatives may have only hinted

at such information.

My general impression about the medical concept of

vestibulitis is that is is still very much a loose

collective of notions. Some have very exacting

defeineitions of severe vestibulitis, like it must

prevent sex completely. IN that case, I guess I dont

have severe vestibulitis, because Ive had about five

good days in the last few months, as opposed to ALL

last year where I had about three. Progress? Hmmm.

The only thing that seems consitent is the idea of pain

in the vestibule, and the bloody swab test. But what

troubles me about this is the swab test is just applied

so inconsistently. The study (below) did a very good

job of trying to sort out just where the swab test was

done, how it was done and for whom it caused problems

in what area what percentage of the time.

They also rated the pain from one to five, very

carefully, one being mild discomfort, five being

noticeably recoiling (I did that in my Jab and Torque

test) I think four was wincing, etc. THey really tried

to be as scientifically rigorous as they can with

something so frustratingly vague and subjective, and I

commend them on that.

Not surprinsingly, the five and seven o clock positions

were where the majority of women expereinced discomfort

AND I believe this was for all the women, not just the

ones with vv, but Im not sure. Check it out.

http://www.vulvarpain.icomm.ca/goetsch_2.html

--

Thielke

http://www.numuse.com

of the Greater Washington DC Area

" When a hostile force lands uninvited in our nations

capitol,

we don't greet them with tea and cookies! "

[Guest guest]

Everything I have read regarding the swab test indicates that the touch

should be gentle. Certainly not the way it was described as done

................

>

> Want to know whay my specialist did? He jabbed it in

> there pretty good WHILE ROTATING IT.

>

Ora