Global Vulvodynia Pain Management Market - 2023-2030

Overview

Vulvodynia is a chronic pain condition of the vulva (outer female genitals). It usually lasts over three months, and there's no known cause. Vulvodynia affects women of all age groups; the onset of symptoms is most common among women between 18 and 25. It is estimated that approximately 15 percent of women will suffer chronic vulvar pain at some point.

A Harvard study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that 60 percent of women who suffer from the condition consult at least three healthcare professionals in seeking a diagnosis, and 40 percent of those remained undiagnosed. According to an NIH-funded study done at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and reported by the National Vulvodynia Association, around 75% of women with vulvodynia feel "out of control" of their bodies. 60% say the condition interferes with their enjoyment of life.

Furthermore, increasing awareness about female hygiene, recent drug discoveries, pipeline drugs are few factors that drive the market in the forthcoming period.

Dynamics

Increasing Product Launches

New Products are more focused on overcoming the challenges present in obsolete drugs. Combination drugs are also experimented with to cure the disease in a better way. Topical creams are often preferred due to their healing ability. A few symptoms of vulvodynia disease are treated using topical creams including vaginal dryness and itching. These topical creams are useful in numbing the pain and reducing further complications.

For instance, In July 2023, Aesthetic pharmaceutical company Croma Pharma launched a new self-occluding topical local anesthetic cream Pliaglis. Pliaglis is a combination topical anesthetic containing both Tetracaine and Lidocaine which is used for treating vulvodynia in females.

Rising Clinical Trials

There is an increased number of clinical trials ongoing for proper treatment of vulvodynia. As there is no targeted therapy for vulvodynia apart from antidepressants, anticonvulsants, etc. Pain management is the only treatment that is prioritized in vulvodynia patients.

For instance, in May 2023, the Medical University of Lublin is conducting phase 2 clinical trials to test the effect of LDN (Low doses of Naltrexone) on pain perception and quality of life in women with different types of vulvodynia. The estimated completion date is December 31, 2026.

Additionally, in February 2023, Universite de Sherbrooke is conducting clinical trials to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a dry needling treatment for women suffering from provoked vestibulodynia. The estimated completion date is May 1, 2024.

Onset of Side Effects

Side effects of certain drugs, such as steroids, lead to few complications, especially in females, as they disrupt the hormonal balance in the body. According to the National Institute of Health 2022 issue, females who use steroids may have problems with their menstrual cycles because steroids can disrupt the maturation and release of eggs from the ovaries.

Segment Analysis

The global is segmented based on disease type, drug class, route of administration, end-user, and region.

Local anesthetics, such as lidocaine, are used as a topical treatment for vulvodynia. This ointment numbs the pain for some time near the vulvar region. Pain and itching are two critical symptoms in patients suffering from vulvodynia. The treatment mainly focuses on decreasing the pain near the vulva.

For instance, according to Sexual Medicine in April 2022, a symptom-oriented therapy with local anesthetics provides an efficient and easy-to-apply approach to treating vulvodynia, especially if integrating the novel perineal pudendal injection technique. Thus, the advantage of local anesthesia to treat vulvodynia is expected to drive the segment's growth.

Geographical Analysis

North America is dominating the global vulvodynia treatment market and is estimated to hold a significant market size over the forecast period owing to the rising prevalence of vulvodynia, and the presence of ongoing research and development activities in the region. The rising prevalence of vulvodynia is expected to drive the growth of the market over the forecast period.

For instance, according to the NIH-funded Harvard study, an estimated 6 million women in America will suffer from Vulvodynia. Despite the high number of those affected, the pain is left misdiagnosed or untreated. A survey conducted by the University of Michigan found that, out of the 2,269 women in the metro Detroit area, 25 % said that they had experienced vulvar pain. Among the 25 %, only 2 % admitted to seeking medical treatment for the pain.

Although it is shocking to know that few women speak up about their pain, even more, alarming is that those that discussed the discomfort with their doctor were misdiagnosed. Also, according to the US's National Vulvodynia Association, as many as 16% of women experience the condition at some point. Due to the above factors, the North American region is expected to hold the largest share in the market

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) broke out towards the end of December 2019 in China; soon, it spread rapidly to various countries, leading to an outburst of pandemics. Due to the restrictions imposed to control the spread of the infection globally, the manufacturing, import, and export of medicine and healthcare services to patients with chronic illness have been affected. Hence, the management of pain among suspected vulvodynia patients suffered from more severe complications.

By Disease Type

• Generalized Vulvodynia
• Localized Vulvodynia

By Drug Class

• Local Anesthetics
• Antidepressants
  • Amitriptyline
  • Nortriptyline

• Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
  • Anticonvulsants

• Opioids
  • Oxycodone
  • Hydrocodone
  • Others

• Anti Epilepsy Drugs
  • Gabapentin
  • Pregabalin
  • Others
    • Topical Hormone Creams
    • Hormone Inhibitors
    • Anti-inflammatory Drugs

• Steroids
• Mast Cell Inhibitors

• Others

By Route of Administration

• Oral
• Parenteral
• Topical
• Others

By End User

• Hospitals and Clinics
• Homecare
• Others

By Region

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
  • Mexico

• Europe
  • Germany
  • U.K.
  • France
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Rest of Europe

• South America
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Rest of South America

• Asia-Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific

• Middle East and Africa

Key Developments

• In December 2022, SCYNEXIS Inc. declared that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a second indication for BREXAFEMME (ibrexafungerp tablets) for the reduction in the incidence of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC).
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology collaborated with St. Olavs Hospital to conduct clinical trials comparing multidisciplinary treatment with standard care for women with vulvodynia. The estimated completion date is June 2024.

Competitive Landscape

The major global players in the vulvodynia pain management market include: Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals, Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Purdue Pharma LP, Alvogen Inc., Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Alembic Pharmaceuticals, and Merck & Co, Inc. among others.

Why Purchase the Report?

• To visualize the global vulvodynia pain management segmentation based on disease type, drug class, route of administration, end-user, and region, as well as understand key commercial assets and players.
• Identify commercial opportunities by analyzing trends and co-development.
• Excel data sheet with numerous data points of vulvodynia management market-level with all segments.
• PDF report consists of a comprehensive analysis after exhaustive qualitative interviews and an in-depth study.
• Product mapping available as Excel consisting of key products of all the major players.

The global vulvodynia pain management market report would provide approximately 53 tables, 54 figures, and 195 Pages.

Target Audience 2023

• Manufacturers/ Buyers
• Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
• Research Professionals
• Emerging Companies