The Vulva, A Clinician's Practical Handbook

The Vulva, A Clinician's Practical Handbook provides a unique visual and written guide to the diagnosis, treatment and management of both acute and chronic vulval conditions.

Co-written by a dermatologist and a gynaecologist, both specialising in vulval conditions, this easy to use, comprehensive reference book includes full-colour clinical photographs and illustrations to assist diagnosis, and colour coded chapters which focus on specific clinical presentations.

Chapter Titles: The basics; Red vulval rashes; Things that look white; Things that ulcerate, blister and erode; Lumps: benign and malignant; Vulval pain and dyspareunia; Vulval disease in children; Myths and pearls; Glossary and Index.

This is a unique and invaluable resource for all practitioners working in the area of women’s health.

REVIEWS

FROM AUSTRALIAN DOCTOR (9 April 2010)

The Vulva, A Clinician's Practical Handbook is a new resource that will prove a valuable reference for those diagnosing, treating and managing vulval conditions.

Written by two experts in the field -- dermatologist, Dr Gayle Fischer and gynaecologist, Dr Jennifer Bradford -- the handbook's chapters relate to common clinical presentaions of vulval disorders including 'Red vulval rashes' and 'Things that ulcerate, blister and erode', making it particularly useful for practising GPs.

Various differential diagnoses are outlined in terms of presentation, investigation and managment complete with full-colour clinical photographs and illustrations.

Review by Dr Linda Calabresi

Dr Calabresi is a practising GP, former editor of Medical Observer, Executive Editor of 6minutes.com.au, writer for the Weekend Australian, Editor of Pathway for the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, and a member of the Sexual Assault Service team at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney.

REVIEW FROM AUSTRALIAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN (December, 2010)

The Vulva, A Clinician's Practical Handbook

 This is an excellent book. The first two pages succinctly discuss the emotional impact of years of poorly diagnosed vulval symptoms, and reflect on the paucity of reliable evidence based studies to guide practitioners.

This book is compact, the text easy to read, colour is used well as headings and for making points of emphasis and the general tone is honest,conversational and collegial. Technical terms are used when appropriate but do not dominate the style, and issues are discussed to a level relevant in general practice. Where more detailed histology and treatments are necessary, advice for specialist referral is given. There is colour coding down the long edge of the pages which allows quick access to individual chapters.

The initial chapter on 'the basics' of anatomy, including innervation, history and examination, investigation and patient categorisation is very useful.

Chapter names are very practical: red rashes, things that look white, ulcerations, lumps (benign and malignant) and pain. Each chapter has summary comments that are practical. very helpful ahd based on years of clinical practice...

...The final section of myths and pearls is concise, although a couple of the myths I would dispute. The valuable pearls include discussion of when a biopsy is appropriate and how to do one, and discussion of topical steroid use and what to do if medication stings. There are also very useful algorithms and reading lists.

In summary, this is a really useful and honest handbook. The authors clearly are dedicated to their patients and have real empathy in their work.

Review by Dr Karen Berzins

Dr Berzins is a Specialist Medical Officer at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre.