Vaginismus

Alternative names:

unconsummated marriage

Treatment:

The treatment of choice with vaginismus is a therapy program that includes vaginal dilation exercises using plastic dilators. It is important that the use of dilators proceeds in a systematic progression under the direction of a sex therapist rather than being haphazard, and treatment should involve the partner. This treatment should include gradually more intimate contact culminating in intercourse. Treatment should also provide education to counter sexual naivet and misinformation that is found to be present in 90% of cases. This education should include information about sexual anatomy, physiology, the sexual response cycle, and common myths about sex. In cases where there is a strong phobic avoidance component, the use of hypnosis and self-hypnotic relaxation can also be useful.

Expectations (prognosis):

When treated by a specialist in sex therapy, success rates are generally in the range of 95% to 98% within 10 to 15 outpatient therapy sessions.

Complications:

Vaginismus is one of the two most common causes of unconsummated marriages. The frustrations of not having sexual intercourse can lead to serious marital dissatisfaction and discord.