This study investigated the roles of vaginal spasm, pain, and behavior in vaginismus and the ability of psychologists, gynecologists, and physical therapists to agree on a diagnosis of vaginismus. Eighty-seven women, matched on age, relationship status, and parity, were assigned to one of three groups: vaginismus, dyspareunia resulting from vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS), and no pain with i...

Vaginismus has been considered by therapists not only as medical disorder, but as a psychological symptom. Accordingly, the present case study intends to treat vaginismus by psychological approach through the hypnotherapy in a 35-year-old female Vaginismus patient. The result has been demonstrated that applying hypnosis as an intervention in vaginismus could be mentioned by therapists as profit...

INTRODUCTION Previous research suggests that anxiety may play a large role in the symptoms of vaginismus. AIM We aimed to (i) determine the degree of self-reported general anxiety in women with vaginismus; and (ii) establish whether general anxiety is a consequence of the condition or a predisposing factor. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Participants reported state and trait anxiety, five-factor per...

Recent consensus defined vaginismus as, "The persistent or recurrent difficulties of the woman to allow vaginal entry of a penis, a finger, and or any object, despite the woman’s expressed wish to do so." The definition also noted that affected women often avoid intercourse; experience involuntary pelvic muscle contraction; and anticipate, fear, or experience pain. However, it can be difficult ...

Unconsummated marriage is a common problem in the andrology clinics in eastern communities. The aetiology of this problem is attributed to factors like erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and vaginismus. The aim of this study is to examine the role of vaginismus in erectile dysfunction of newly married men refractory to conventional treatment. 40 men were include in this study. All had ...

Help seeking and vaginismus 2 Summary The aim of the study was to examine the help-seeking behaviour of sufferers of vaginismus and to explore their experiences of professional intervention. A postal questionnaire was completed by sufferers (n=67) and ex-sufferers (n=22) of vaginismus through a newspaper advert, self help groups, psychotherapists and professional organisations asking them about...

OBJECTIVE To investigate possible altered CNS excitability in vaginismus. METHODS In 10 patients with primary idiopathic lifelong vaginismus, 10 with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome accompanied by vaginismus and healthy controls we recorded EMG activity from the levator ani (LA) and external anal sphincter (EAS) muscles and tested bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR). Pudendal-nerve somatosensory evoked...

OBJECTIVE To compare sociodemographics, parity and mode of delivery between women diagnosed with vaginismus or localised provoked vestibulodynia (LPV) to women without a diagnosis before first pregnancy. DESIGN Retrospective, population-based register study. SETTING Sweden. SAMPLE All women born in Sweden 1973-83 who gave birth for the first time or remained nulliparous during the years 2...

OBJECTIVE To describe couple characteristics and outcome of therapy in vaginismus. DESIGN A prospective before-after intervention descriptive study. SETTING Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo, Sri Lanka. METHODS Fifty six couples with vaginismus, mostly self referrals and referrals from gynaecologists and general practitioners, were treated with a standard cognitive be...

Functional sexual pain disorders in women are a particular challenge to the gynecologist, inasmuch as phobic avoidance and guarding on the part of the patient lead to difficulties in the gynecological examination and diagnosis. In some such cases examination may even be impossible. Vaginismus is the commonly diagnosed etiology of such cases. This article offers an overview of vaginismus and app...