Vulvar Pain Functional Questionnaire (V-Q)

The Vulvar Pain Functional Questionnaire (V-Q) was developed by Kathe Wallace, Hollis Herman, and Kathie Hummel-Berry through the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. It was created to fill a gap in clinical practice—moving from measuring just "how much it hurts" to "how the pain stops you from living your life."

The 11 Questions of the V-Q

The V-Q consists of 11 specific items that cover clothing, movement, social life, and intimacy. For each question, you choose the statement that best describes your experience.

• Clothing: Ability to wear tight-fitting vs. loose clothing.
• Walking: Distance you can walk before pain increases.
• Sitting: Duration you can sit before it becomes difficult to work or relax.
• Medication Side Effects: Impact of pain pills on concentration/energy.
• Bowel Movements: Pain levels during and after digestion.
• Social Life: Frequency of seeing friends or attending events.
• Medical Exams: Pain levels during a gynecological speculum exam.
• Tampon Use: Ability to use internal menstrual products.
• Vaginal Penetration: Pain during sexual intimacy (if applicable).
• External Sexual Touch: Pain when touched sexually outside the vagina.
• Self-Stimulation: Pain during solitary sexual activity (masturbation).

Scoring and Results

The V-Q uses a weighted scoring system (0 to 3 points per question).

Individual Item Scoring:

• 0 points: No limitation / No pain.
• 1 point: Mild limitation / Occasional pain.
• 2 points: Moderate limitation / Significant pain.
• 3 points: Total limitation / Severe pain.

Total Score: The maximum score is 33.

Interpretation: 

• Higher Score = Greater Functional Limitation.
• Lowering Score = Improvement. 

Clinicians look for a decrease in the total score over a 4–6 week period as a sign that physical therapy or medical treatment is successfully restoring your quality of life.