Table 1.

Goal, hypotheses and measurements.

Goal 1.
Determine the efficacy of G-ERa for treatment of PVDb compared to placebo	1a. Pain from tampon insertion will be lower in PVD patients when treated with G-ER compared to when treated with placebo (primary outcome variable.	Diary
	1b. Pain from intercourse will be lower in PVD patients when treated with G-ER compared to when treated with placebo.	Diary
	1c. 24-hour vulvar pain will be lower in PVD patients when treated with G-ER compared to when treated with placebo.	Diary
Goal 2.
Identify psychophysiological measures of treatment response and define mechanistically-based PVD subtypes including central vs. peripheral sensitization, pelvic hypertonicity, tender point tenderness and autonomic dysregulation	2a. G-ER will reduce mechanical allodynia compared to placebo	Von frey hair, brush, Algesiometer
	2b. G-ER will reduce area and duration of hypersensitivity induced by intradermal capsaicin compared to placebo	Capsaicin skin sensitivity test
	2c. G-ER will reduce vaginal muscle pain to palpation compared to placebo	Vaginal algometer
	2d. G-ER will decrease the number and intensity of somatic tender points compared to placebo	Tender point tenderness test
	2e. G-ER will increase cardiac beat-to-beat variability compared to placebo	Heart rate variability

^aG-ER: gabapentin extended release.

^bPVD: provoked vestibulodynia.