Media Advisory

Friday, October 12, 2007

NIH Office of Research on Women's Health Launches Vulvodynia Awareness Campaign

What:

Launch of Vulvodynia Awareness Campaign
To raise awareness about vulvodynia, a chronic unexplained pain or discomfort of the vulva. While a number of causes have been proposed, researchers still don't know why vulvodynia happens to some women. An estimated 14 million American women may have vulvodynia at one point in their lives. However, many health care providers are not aware of the condition, so they aren't always able to diagnose it. As a result, many women may go for a long period of time without a diagnosis. This campaign is designed to raise awareness of the condition that is frequently not discussed, but can greatly affect the lives and personal relationships of women of all races, ethnic groups and ages.

Who:

NIH Office of Research on Women's Health, the National Women's Health Resource Center, NIH components, and thirty federal and non-federal partners.

Where:

NATIONAL PRESS CLUB
529 14th Street, NW
Washington, D.C, 20045
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

When:

Wednesday, October 24, 2007
10 A.M. - 11 A.M.

PRESS TELECONFERENCE LINE: 800-952-4629

The Office of the Director, the central office at NIH, is responsible for setting policy for NIH, which includes 27 Institutes and Centers. This involves planning, managing, and coordinating the programs and activities of all NIH components. The Office of the Director also includes program offices which are responsible for stimulating specific areas of research throughout NIH. Additional information is available at http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

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