Caroline Pukall

Caroline Pukall is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Queen's University. Her research focuses on sexual wellbeing, particularly addressing genitopelvic dysesthesias (e.g., vulvodynia, persistent genital arousal disorder) and developing patient-reported outcome measures in sexual health. She employs mixed-methods approaches, including quantitative sensory testing and neuroimaging, while prioritizing inclusivity for marginalized populations.

Education: B.A. (1996) and Ph.D. (2003) from McGill University.

Key Research Streams:

• Chronic vulvar pain conditions and their psychosocial impacts
• Neural mechanisms of chronic pain (e.g., fibromyalgia, provoked vestibulodynia)
• Sexual function assessment in gender minority populations
• Sexual coercion and genitopelvic pain dynamics
• Patient-centered treatment outcomes and clinical guidelines

Publications (selected) highlight advancements in core outcome sets for provoked vestibulodynia, fear-avoidance models in persistent genital arousal disorder, and neural imaging comparisons between fibromyalgia and vulvar pain conditions. Ongoing work explores cervical contributions to female sexual response and resilience in LGBTQ+ health.

Lab activities focus on translational research bridging basic science (e.g., quantitative sensory testing) and clinical practice (e.g., patient-reported measures). Collaborations include interdisciplinary teams addressing pain neurology and healthcare equity.