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About
The Journal "Obstetrics and Gynecology"Journal HistoryAims and ScopePolicies on Conflict of Interest, Human and Animal Rights, and Informed ConsentEditorial ProcessData sharing statementAdvertising PolicyThe Process for Handling Cases Requiring Corrections, Retractions, and Editorial Expressions of ConcernEditorial BoardEditorial CounsilInformation for ProfessionalsNewsContacts
ArchiveEthical StandardsSubscription
For authors
InstructionsInformed consent policyContract offerEASE GuidelinesICJME CriteriaWAME Recommendations on ChatGPT and Chatbots in Relation to Scholarly Publications
Reviewing
Procedure for reviewingReviewers 2023-2024Reviewers 2026
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Obstetrics and Gynegology2026№10

Linguistic and cultural adaptation and validation of the Vulvar Quality of Life Index (VQLI) in patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus

DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2026.142

Apolikhina I.A., Balashiva Kh.B., Bychkova A.E., Teterina T.A., Yarotskaya E.L., Saidova A.S.

1) Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia; 2) I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia (Sechenov University), Moscow Russia

Objective. Linguistic and cultural adaptation and validation of the Russian version of the Vulvar Quality of Life Index (VQLI) in patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) as an effective tool for assessment of the quality of life and monitoring of treatment effectiveness.
Materials and methods. The study was carried out at V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology of the Ministry of Health of Russia from 2024 to 2026. Adaptation of the Vulvar Quality of Life Index (VQLI) questionnaire was carried out using standard process of linguistic and cultural adaptation and included direct and reverse translation. The resulting interim version was tested on 20 female patients and subsequently refined based on the identified remarks. The main study included 120 patients with VLS. The survey was conducted twice using test-retest reliability with 14-day interval. Convergent validity was assessed based on relationship between the total VQLI score and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI)ю 
Results. Based on statistical data analysis, the Russian version of VQLI demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha =0.822; 95% CI 0.77–0.87), high test-retest reliability of the total score (ICC=0.987; 95% CI 0.98–0.99), near perfect test-retest consistency of certain questionnaire items, based on Cohen's linearly weighted kappa (kappa >0.81), and high convergent validity. A strong inverse correlation was found between the total VQLI score and FSFI (rs=-0.888; p<0.001; 95% CI -0.92–-0.84).
Conclusion. The obtained results indicate that the Russian version of VQLI is a reliable and validated tool for assessment of the quality of life of patients with vulvar diseases, in particular, with VLS. The use of this tool is considered justified both in scientific research and clinical practice, including outcome monitoring in therapy. 

Authors' contributions. Apolikhina I.A. – patient recruitment and examination, development of the concept and manuscript editing; Balashova Kh.B.  – patient recruitment and examination, literature review, collection and analysis of literature sources, translation of the VQLI questionnaire into Russian and its adaptation, analysis of the results, manuscript preparing and writing; Bychkova A.E. – translation of the VQLI questionnaire into Russian and its adaptation, patient recruitment and examination, development of the concept and manuscript editing; Teterina T.A. – patient recruitment and examination, development of the concept and manuscript editing; Saidova A.S. – patient recruitment and examination, manuscript editing; Yarotskaya E.L. – translation of the VQLI questionnaire into Russian and its adaptation, manuscript editing.
Conflicts of interest. The authors confirm that they have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding. The authors received no funding for this study.
Generative Artificial Intelligence. No generative AI was used in preparing this article.
Patient Consent for Publication. All patients have signed informed consent for participation in the study and publication of the obtained data.
Authors' Data Sharing Statement. The data supporting the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author after approval from the principal investigator.
For citation: Apolikhina I.A., Balashiva Kh.B., Bychkova A.E., Teterina T.A., Yarotskaya E.L., Saidova A.S. 
Linguistic and cultural adaptation and validation of the Vulvar Quality of Life Index (VQLI) in patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus. 
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2026; (10): 100-109 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2026.142

Keywords

vulvar lichen sclerosus
vulvar diseases
quality of life
VQLI
validation
linguistic adaptation
cultural adaptation
questionnaire
FSFI
Full text (in Russian)

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Received 27.04.2026

Accepted 08.09.2026

About the Authors

Inna A. Apolikhina, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Head of the Department of Aesthetic Gynecology and Rehabilitation, Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Vocational Education, V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4; Professor at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Perinatology, and Reproductology, Institute of Professional Education,
I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia (Sechenov University); President of the Association of Specialists in Aesthetic Gynecology (ASEG), apolikhina@inbox.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4581-6295
Khava B. Balashova, оbstetrician-gynecologist, postgraduate, V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology,
Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4, +7(925)186-43-88, Hava199@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3365-4695
Anastasia E. Bychkova, obstetrician-gynecologist, oncologist, Department of Aesthetic Gynecology and Rehabilitation, V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4, a_bychkova@oparina4.ru,
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4855-8188
Tatiana A. Teterina, PhD, obstetrician-gynecologist, USD, Department of Aesthetic Gynecology and Rehabilitation, V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4; Expert at the Association of Specialists in Aesthetic Gynecology (ASEG), palpebra@inbox.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0990-2302
Ekaterina L. Yarotskaya, Dr. Med. Sci., Head of the Department of International Cooperation, V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4, e_yarotskaya@oparina4.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4337-7644
Aina S. Saidova, PhD, obstetrician-gynecologist, Department of Aesthetic Gynecology and Rehabilitation, V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4, a_saidova@oparina4.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3473-3109
Corresponding author: Khava B. Balashova, Hava199@mail.ru

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