Who Benefits from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Vaginismus?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of a group of Turkish vaginismus patients who benefited from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and to study which factors this treatment model changes. Twenty-eight couples who applied to Psychiatry Clinic of Hacettepe University Hospital, Ankara, for treatment of vaginismus within the 6-month period participated in the study. Fourteen subjects quit the therapy after the initial assessment sessions. Other couples successfully completed the treatment. We assessed all the couples that completed the CBT at three times: during the initial session, at the end of the treatment, and during the follow-up session (4 weeks after the end of the treatment). In terms of anxiety levels, and quality of marital and sexual relationships, the characteristics of the couples that quit the therapy could not be identified. But we found that all of the participants were treated effectively by CBT. At the end of the therapy, anxiety levels of the women decreased. There also were improvements on parameters related to marital harmony and overall sexual functioning of the women. We discuss the findings of our study within a cultural perspective.

The assessment of penetration cognitions and sexual functionality of women with sexual pain disorder in a Turkish sample: a comparative study

“…Many recent studies represent that women with vaginismus have wide range of sexual problems, [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] and at least one study disclose that these sexual problems bear a resemblance to women with dyspareunia. 41 Our findings support the results of these recent studies.…”

A Psychophysiological Investigation of Sexual Arousal in Women with Lifelong Vaginismus

“…Reports on sexual function in women with vaginismus range from unimpaired if penetration is not anticipated or attempted [2,[5][6][7] to significantly affected across the sexual response cycle [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Many studies, however, include significant methodological limitations such as the inclusion of questionnaire items that refer to intercourse [8][9][10]20], which is problematic as the scores of women with vaginismus are more likely to indicate sexual difficulties on these items because they experience problems with penetration. Alternatively, it may be unclear whether the overall lower level of sexual functioning in women with vaginismus only applies to penetrative sexual activities [10].…”

The frequency of sexual dysfunctions in male partners of women with vaginismus in a Turkish sample

“…12 Vaginismus is a frequently observed sexual dysfunction in Turkey and there are some studies related with the role of a male partner in treating a vaginismic woman. 5,[13][14][15] It is anticipated that vaginismus may affect the quality of life and sexual satisfaction level of both the female and her male partner. Unfortunately, there are no reliable data at the moment concerning the incidence of sexual dysfunctions in male partners of vaginismic women.…”