Referrals

The BC Centre for Vulvar Health offers different programs and services to adult women in British Columbia with chronic and complex vulvar disorders.

Approximate Clinic Wait Times

Vulvar Disease Clinic: Urgent 4 weeks. Non-urgent 8-9 months.

Vulvar Oncology Clinic: Urgent 4-6 weeks. Non-urgent 6-7 months.

Vulvar Pain Assessment Clinic: New Patient Assessments: > 5 months. We are now accepting new patient referrals for the assessment of premenopausal women over the age of 19 with chronic vulvar pain (vulvodynia). At this time we are unable to accept referrals for postmenopausal women. Click here to view alternate health care providers.

HOW TO REFER

If you would like to be seen at the BC Centre for Vulvar Health,

  • Please discuss with your physician (G.P. or specialist), and have them fill out both pages of the BC CVH Temp Referral (pdf).
  • Your physician can then submit by email or fax at 604-875-5807.
  • We only accept referrals from B.C. physicians for residents of B.C.

TRIAGE PROCESS

Once we receive your referral, your physician’s office will be sent an Acknowledgement fax.

  • If the Acknowledgement fax is not received within a couple of days, it means we did not receive the referral. Please fax the referral again.

Once received in full, the referral will be reviewed.

  • We will fax the results of the triaging process to your referring physician.
  • To facilitate the triage process, ensure that the correct referral form is filled out in full, and that all consults are sent accordingly.

Wait times: are different for each clinic.

  • We try and book new patient appointments 3-6 months in advance.
  • When estimated wait times for an initial appointment exceed 12 months, we will temporarily STOP accepting new referrals for this clinic. Click here to view alternate health care providers.

When a patient’s name comes up on the waitlist, we will contact the patient directly to book her appointment. Please indicate on the referral the best way to contact your patient (eg. mobile phone or email). A message will be left for the patient with a specific date and time for the appointment.

The patient will need to CONFIRM this appointment within 48 hours by leaving a message on our confirmation line. If we do not hear from the patient, the appointment will be given to another patient. Only those patients who provide more than 48 hours notice are eligible to re-book an appointment.

  • Vulvar Pain Assessment Clinic (VPAC) – the Clinical Coordinator will contact women referred to the VPAC prior to their assessment appointment. The Coordinator will review the format of the multidisciplinary assessment process and treatment planning.

INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR CLINICS

Clinic Inclusion (patients accepted) Exclusion
Vulvar Disease Clinic

Women >16 years old with

  • more than 3 months of vulvar symptoms that associated with objective clinical findings.
  • no symptoms but objective vulvar skin changes and or lesions.

Women referred for

  • general gynecological care (eg. Pap smear).
  • cosmetic gynecological surgery.
  • emergency gynecologic care (eg. acute bartholin’s cyst). Please refer these patients directly to emergency.

Vulvar Pain Assessment Clinic

This is a multidisciplinary assessment clinic which introduces strategies for managing vulvar pain for women with a new diagnosis of vulvodynia. We work with patients to develop a treatment plan, but do not provide ongoing care.

Follow up care is provided by the referring physician.

Women >19 years of age with >6 months of

  • vulvar discomfort or pain NOT related to a specific disorder (eg. herpes) or associated with objective clinical findings.
  • superficial pain with vaginal penetration/sexual intercourse NOT related to a specific disorder (eg. atrophy), or associated with objective clinical findings.

Women who

  • do not have a physicians willing to provide shared-care. Our patients are discharged back to their health care provider for ongoing care.
  • are currently breastfeeding and/or less than 6 months’ post-partum.
  • deep dyspareunia/pelvic pain.
  • sexual pain NOT related to a vulvar disorder.
  • complex chronic pain patients with multiple pain conditions.
  • untreated psychiatric conditions (eg. depression)
Vulvar Intra-epithelial Neoplasia (VIN) Follow up Clinic

Women >16 years of age with

  • previously diagnosed and treated VIN for long term surveillance.

Women who have

  • objective vulvar skin changes that are suspicious for VIN that need immediate assessment/treatment.
Vulvar Oncology Clinic

Women >16 years of age with

  • objective vulvar skin changes that are suspicious for VIN or vulvar cancer.
  • biopsy proven VIN referred for treatment.
  • benign vulvar conditions requiring complex vulvar surgery (eg. Crohn’s disease).

Women with

  • biopsy proven vulvar cancer should be referred directly to BCCA.