A conceptual model for managing sexual pain with somatocognitive therapy in women with provoked vestibulodynia and implications for physiotherapy practice

Using network analysis to model associations between psychological symptoms, sexual function, and sexual distress in women

“…The intuitive connection between lubrication and pain is consistent with research that vaginal dryness is a primary contributor to pain during penetration ( Sutton et al, 2012 ). It is possible that pain during sex was directly associated with symptoms like nausea and weakness, but not cardiovascular symptoms, because this pain implicates central nervous system sensitization and skeletal muscle tension ( Kaarbø et al, 2023 ; Rubal et al, 2023 ). Additionally, different interoceptive capacities exist for cardiac and gastric sensations, which might explain the importance of some somatic symptoms over others for connecting sexual function and psychological symptoms ( Davey et al, 2021 ).…”