Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Vaginismus: Diagnostic Challenges and Proposed Diagnostic Criteria

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10767778/

  Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a widespread condition that is least addressed in clinical practice worldwide. Vaginismus is a relatively rare FSD with a low prevalence in society but a higher reported clinical prevalence rate of 5-7%. […] According to the definition, involuntary spasm of the vaginal musculature is an important requirement for the diagnosis of vaginismus. […] Excessive dread of pain during penetration is a common symptom reported by people with vaginismus. […] Before diagnosing vaginismus, always rule out secondary causes in women who had difficulty penetrating despite their expressed wish to do so. […] We propose criteria for diagnosing vaginismus based on our clinical experience and review of relevant literature. […] The most common clinical manifestation of vaginismus is difficulty with vaginal penetration, which is typically associated with fear or emotional distress.

• #2 Clinical assessment and management of vaginismus

  https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2024/january-february/clinical-assessment-and-management-of-vaginismus

  Vaginismus is one of the leading causes of painful sex (dyspareunia) for women. […] One study suggests that around 14% of Australian women report having experienced painful sex (dyspareunia) in the previous 12 months. One of the leading causes of dyspareunia is vaginismus. […] Changing definitions make it difficult to reliably estimate the prevalence of vaginismus. Estimating the prevalence of vaginismus is also made difficult by the stigma and shame attached to sex and sexual difficulties. As a result of these difficulties, no methodologically and epidemiologically sound prevalence estimates are available, although it is generally reported to affect somewhere between 1% and 6% of the general population. […] Given that people with vaginismus and pelvic pain more broadly often report feeling unheard or dismissed by health professionals, the first step in encountering these patients in a clinical situation should be validation that their pain is real, they are believed and the pain is not all in their head.

• #3 Vaginismus (Causes, Symptoms and Treatment)

  https://patient.info/doctor/vaginismus

  Vaginismus is an issue many women find difficult to bring to their doctor, and therefore figures are likely to be underestimates. The prevalence of vaginismus in the general population is 1-6%, and this ratio rises to between 5% and 17% in specialist sexual dysfunction settings. […] A Cochrane review found some studies quoted even higher prevalence rates and commented that the wide variety in the figures found for the prevalence of vaginismus may be the consequence of the unclear and differing definitions used in the studies.

• #4 Vaginismus – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaginismus

  There are no epidemiological studies of the prevalence of vaginismus. Estimates of how common the condition is varies. A 2016 textbook estimated about 0.5% of women are affected, while rates in Morocco and Sweden were estimated at 6%. […] Among those who attend clinics for sexual dysfunction, rates may be as high as 12% to 47%.

• #5 Clinical assessment and management of vaginismus

  https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2024/january-february/clinical-assessment-and-management-of-vaginismus

  Vaginismus is one of the leading causes of painful sex (dyspareunia) for women. […] One study suggests that around 14% of Australian women report having experienced painful sex (dyspareunia) in the previous 12 months. One of the leading causes of dyspareunia is vaginismus. […] Changing definitions make it difficult to reliably estimate the prevalence of vaginismus. Estimating the prevalence of vaginismus is also made difficult by the stigma and shame attached to sex and sexual difficulties. As a result of these difficulties, no methodologically and epidemiologically sound prevalence estimates are available, although it is generally reported to affect somewhere between 1% and 6% of the general population. […] Given that people with vaginismus and pelvic pain more broadly often report feeling unheard or dismissed by health professionals, the first step in encountering these patients in a clinical situation should be validation that their pain is real, they are believed and the pain is not all in their head.

• #6 A Systematic Review of Vaginismus Prevalence Reports – Journal of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences

  https://jarums.arums.ac.ir/article-1-1721-en.html

  A Systematic Review of Vaginismus Prevalence Reports. […] The purpose of this overview was to summarize population-based studies that reported the prevalence of vaginismus in the general population and to discover the discrepancies between studies. […] Of the 10 studies, 4 articles reported prevalence of vaginismus in the general population. In selected studies, the incidence of vaginismus in the general population of women was reported 0.4% to 8%. […] Different prevalence rates have been reported in different studies for vaginismus. In this review study, it was not possible to Meta-analyze and determines the overall prevalence due to the heterogeneity of the prevalence reports and different study methods.

• #7

  https://flipper.diff.org/app/items/5186

  Vaginismus is an uncommon condition, which affects 1-7% of women all around the world. A study in women in Sweden and Morocco revealed a prevalence of 6%. […] The most recent study-based estimates of vaginismus incidence range from 5% to 47% of people presenting for sex therapy or complaining of sexual problems, with significant differences across cultures.

• #8 Vaginismus – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaginismus

  There are no epidemiological studies of the prevalence of vaginismus. Estimates of how common the condition is varies. A 2016 textbook estimated about 0.5% of women are affected, while rates in Morocco and Sweden were estimated at 6%. […] Among those who attend clinics for sexual dysfunction, rates may be as high as 12% to 47%.

• #9 Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (Vaginismus) | 5-Minute Clinical Consult

  https://www.unboundmedicine.com/5minute/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816419/3.0/Genito_Pelvic_Pain_Penetration_Disorder__Vaginismus_

  Incidence The incidence of vaginismus is thought to be about 117% per year worldwide. In North America, 1221% of women have genito-pelvic pain of varying etiologies (1). […] True prevalence is unknown due to limited data/reporting. […] Population-based studies report prevalence rates of 0.530%. […] Affects women in all age groups […] Approximately 15% of women in North America report recurrent pain during intercourse.

• #10 Vaginismus – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaginismus

  There are no epidemiological studies of the prevalence of vaginismus. Estimates of how common the condition is varies. A 2016 textbook estimated about 0.5% of women are affected, while rates in Morocco and Sweden were estimated at 6%. […] Among those who attend clinics for sexual dysfunction, rates may be as high as 12% to 47%.

• #11 Vaginismus: Diagnostic Challenges and Proposed Diagnostic Criteria

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10767778/

  Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a widespread condition that is least addressed in clinical practice worldwide. Vaginismus is a relatively rare FSD with a low prevalence in society but a higher reported clinical prevalence rate of 5-7%. […] According to the definition, involuntary spasm of the vaginal musculature is an important requirement for the diagnosis of vaginismus. […] Excessive dread of pain during penetration is a common symptom reported by people with vaginismus. […] Before diagnosing vaginismus, always rule out secondary causes in women who had difficulty penetrating despite their expressed wish to do so. […] We propose criteria for diagnosing vaginismus based on our clinical experience and review of relevant literature. […] The most common clinical manifestation of vaginismus is difficulty with vaginal penetration, which is typically associated with fear or emotional distress.

• #12 Vaginismus Treatment: Clinical Trials Follow Up 241 Patients

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5440634/

  Vaginismus is mostly unknown among clinicians and women. Vaginismus causes women to have fear, anxiety, and pain with penetration attempts. The prevalence rate of vaginismus in a clinical setting has been estimated as 5% to 17%, and it is believed to be one of the more prevalent female sexual dysfunctions. Different psychological factors have been associated with vaginismus, such as traumatic sexual experiences, sexual abuse, a strict religious and/or strict sexual upbringing, fear and/or anxiety issues, and being held down at a young age during catheterization or enemas, but it is not always associated with psychological issues and some patients give a negative history for those factors. Vaginismus frequently leads to marital problems and depression and to feelings of isolation, is a major cause of unconsummated marriages, is an inability to tolerate GYN examinations, and is not tolerated in cultures with arranged marriages, often resulting in an annulment. The successful use of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA; Allergan, Irvine, CA, USA) injections to treat secondary vaginismus was first described as a case report in 1997 and later developed by different investigators. The purpose of this report was to discuss a large cohort of women, many with failed prior treatments, who were treated using a program approved by an institutional review board (IRB) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for continued research, which included a multimodal program of intravaginal injections of Botox and bupivacaine, progressive dilation under conscious sedation, use of an indwelling dilator, and postprocedure counseling, support, and follow up. The primary end point was the ability to achieve pain-free intercourse after treatment as reported in a daily log kept by the patient, ongoing communication with Dr Pacik, and FSFI reports. After treatment, 171 patients (71%) achieved pain-free intercourse, which was achieved at a mean of 5.1 weeks (median = 2.5) as noted by personal communications and FSFI scores.

• #13 Vaginismus: Classification, Diagnosis, Etiology and Treatment

  https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/730325

  Vaginismus continues to be perceived by clinicians as a well-understood and easily treatable female sexual dysfunction despite the lack of research supporting these claims. […] Although the population prevalence of vaginismus remains unknown, it has been reported to range between 5 and 17% in clinical settings. […] There has been a 150-year consensus concerning the definition of vaginismus as an involuntary vaginal muscle spasm despite the lack of research supporting the vaginal muscle spasm criterion. […] Recently, new definitions of vaginismus integrating pelvic floor muscle tension, genital pain and fear have been proposed. […] Most psychological factors that have been proposed to play a role in the etiology of vaginismus (i.e., abuse, relationship factors, negative sexual attitudes and lack of sexual education) have not received empirical support.

• #14 Vaginismus – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaginismus

  There are no epidemiological studies of the prevalence of vaginismus. Estimates of how common the condition is varies. A 2016 textbook estimated about 0.5% of women are affected, while rates in Morocco and Sweden were estimated at 6%. […] Among those who attend clinics for sexual dysfunction, rates may be as high as 12% to 47%.

• #15

  https://flipper.diff.org/app/items/5186

  Vaginismus is an uncommon condition, which affects 1-7% of women all around the world. A study in women in Sweden and Morocco revealed a prevalence of 6%. […] The most recent study-based estimates of vaginismus incidence range from 5% to 47% of people presenting for sex therapy or complaining of sexual problems, with significant differences across cultures.

• #16 Vaginismus in Iran: A Single Center Report of 7 Years Experience

  https://brieflands.com/articles/num-17219

  Vaginismus is a sexual disorder that can cause painful intercourse. Although several studies have shown a relationship between higher education and socio-economic level of women with vaginismus, the relationship between demographic characteristics and other variables remains unclear. […] Vaginismus is a global health issue, for which community estimates put the prevalence at 0.5 – 1%, while the rates would become as high as 4.2 – 42% in specialist and clinical settings. […] The educational level of our study population was quite higher than that of the general population, with over two thirds of the investigated women having a bachelor degree or higher and over 60% of that same status for their husbands. […] In conclusion, the current study showed that vaginismus, in Iran, is more observed among women of mean age of 29 years, higher socioeconomic levels and mostly with marriage duration of 1 – 3 years.

• #17 Vaginismus and pregnancy: epidemiological profile and management diffi | PRBM

  https://www.dovepress.com/vaginismus-and-pregnancy-epidemiological-profile-and-management-diffic-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PRBM

  Vaginismus affects up to 1% of the female population and often represents a physical manifestation of an underlying psychological problem. […] In Tunisia, we do not have specific data on the prevalence of vaginismus, as it remains a pathology not always declared by the patients, and it accounts for ~10%15% of the sexology consultations. […] Vaginismus prevalence is difficult to appreciate precisely, but the majority of authors place it between 1% and 2%. […] Since it still represents a taboo, the majority of affected women do not consult their gynecologist for this reason. […] Pregnancy and resulting neonatal follow-up visits represent an opportunity for health care providers to identify women with vaginismus. […] Prenatal care visits offer an opportunity to screen for women with vaginismus and to subsequently offer them guidance in a multidisciplinary setting.

• #18 Prevalence of vaginismus in Delta, Egypt

  https://www.menoufia-med-j.com/journal/vol34/iss2/19/

  Vaginismus is defined as a penetration disorder in which any form of vaginal penetration is often painful or impossible. The prevalence of vaginismus is poorly understood and relatively unknown. The findings of the study indicate that vaginismus is a common sexual problem, as its prevalence in Delta, Egypt, according to the present study is 20%. […] Vaginismus is a common and significant sexual problem that causes distress and frustration for both partners.

• #19 How Common is Vaginismus According to Statistics?

  https://www.vuvatech.com/blogs/vuvagirlblog/how-common-is-vaginismus-according-to-statistics?srsltid=AfmBOoqUcZFCC4aRW80xeu7GotrvhlXlNalO08Baln8vReB_j75zxVRy

  Women do not always feel comfortable seeking help for the condition and to make matters worse, incorrect diagnoses are quite common. […] The general consensus in the medical industry is that approximately one in two women will develop vaginismus. […] Incidences of vaginismus are thought to be between 1 and 17% per year worldwide. […] 12 to 21% of North American women report some type of genito-pelvic pain to healthcare providers, and approximately 15% of North American women report that they experience dyspareunia (painful sex) regularly. […] Around 0.17% of females between 15 and 64 years of age (equating to over 27,200) in the UK have vaginismus. […] A survey of women consulting a birth control clinic concluded that 16 in 100 women displayed vaginismus symptoms. […] A sexual specialist Doctor in Ireland estimated that 5 in 1000 marriages in Ireland were affected by vaginismus.

• #20 How Common is Vaginismus According to Statistics?

  https://www.vuvatech.com/blogs/vuvagirlblog/how-common-is-vaginismus-according-to-statistics?srsltid=AfmBOoqUcZFCC4aRW80xeu7GotrvhlXlNalO08Baln8vReB_j75zxVRy

  Over 3 years, UK relationship counseling organization relate estimated that 7% of their diagnoses were vaginismus (equating to between 150 and 200 cases). […] Dr. Harold I. Lief of the University of Pennsylvania estimates the occurrence of vaginismus to be around 4% of women and that’s only based on those seeking treatment. […] Dr. Marian E. Dunn, Director of the Center for Human Sexuality at the State University of New York Health Science Center in Brooklyn says that around 40% of women visiting them have vaginismus. […] 47% of vaginismus sufferers are either single or dating. […] 53% of women with vaginismus are married. […] 18% of vaginismus complaints come from women under 25 years old, according to a private American clinic. […] 26% of women with vaginismus are between 36 to 50 years old (and most did not seek help for a long time sometimes due to late marriage or marital issues due to the condition). […] 9% of vaginismus sufferers are 51 years of age or older.

• #21 Clinical assessment and management of vaginismus

  https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2024/january-february/clinical-assessment-and-management-of-vaginismus

  Vaginismus is one of the leading causes of painful sex (dyspareunia) for women. […] One study suggests that around 14% of Australian women report having experienced painful sex (dyspareunia) in the previous 12 months. One of the leading causes of dyspareunia is vaginismus. […] Changing definitions make it difficult to reliably estimate the prevalence of vaginismus. Estimating the prevalence of vaginismus is also made difficult by the stigma and shame attached to sex and sexual difficulties. As a result of these difficulties, no methodologically and epidemiologically sound prevalence estimates are available, although it is generally reported to affect somewhere between 1% and 6% of the general population. […] Given that people with vaginismus and pelvic pain more broadly often report feeling unheard or dismissed by health professionals, the first step in encountering these patients in a clinical situation should be validation that their pain is real, they are believed and the pain is not all in their head.

• #22 The role of personal factors in quality of life among Iranian women with vaginismus: a path analysis | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Full Text

  https://hqlo.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12955-021-01799-5

  The aim of this study was to provide a path model for assessing the direct and/or indirect effects of psychological/behavioral parameters on health-related quality of life among women with vaginismus. […] Although the prevalence of the disorder is unknown, studies demonstrated that vaginismus is one of the most common sexual disorders among women that generally can influence health-related quality of life (HRQoL), well-being and sexual health. […] For instance, vaginismus prevalence is estimated to be around 15.5% and 68% among studied samples in the United Kingdom and Ghana respectively. […] There are few studies about vaginismus among Iranian women with a prevalence of 20.1%. […] The association between women’s sexual disorders and psychological problems such as depression and anxiety have been confirmed in various studies. […] Anxiety and depression are important components in predicting health-related quality of life among those suffering from vaginismus.

• #23 Vaginismus in Iran: A Single Center Report of 7 Years Experience

  https://brieflands.com/articles/num-17219

  Vaginismus is a sexual disorder that can cause painful intercourse. Although several studies have shown a relationship between higher education and socio-economic level of women with vaginismus, the relationship between demographic characteristics and other variables remains unclear. […] Vaginismus is a global health issue, for which community estimates put the prevalence at 0.5 – 1%, while the rates would become as high as 4.2 – 42% in specialist and clinical settings. […] The educational level of our study population was quite higher than that of the general population, with over two thirds of the investigated women having a bachelor degree or higher and over 60% of that same status for their husbands. […] In conclusion, the current study showed that vaginismus, in Iran, is more observed among women of mean age of 29 years, higher socioeconomic levels and mostly with marriage duration of 1 – 3 years.

• #24 Prevalence of Vaginismus in Reproductive Age Group: Observational Study

  https://www.jsafog.com/abstractArticleContentBrowse/JSAFOG/35375/JPJ/fullText

  Vaginismus is a multifaceted disorder encompassing increased muscle tension, pain, anxiety, and fear due to psychosocial perspectives which makes vaginal penetration impossible. […] The worldwide prevalence of vaginismus is reported to be in the range of 17%. […] The prevalence of female sexual problems in the Indian population was determined to be 55.55%. […] A study conducted in India found that the prevalence of vaginismus in females aged 20-35 years was 12.8%. […] Another study conducted in Delhi found a similar prevalence rate of 12.9%. […] These findings suggest that vaginismus is a prevalent condition among young women in India. […] The current study provides significant information on the prevalence of vaginismus among women in India. […] The prevalence rate is relatively high, especially when considering the negative impact that vaginismus can have on sexual function, mental health, and quality of life. […] The prevalence of vaginismus in India is a significant concern, and efforts should be made to increase awareness and education about this disorder.

• #25 Vaginismus (306.51) – Abnormal Psychology

  https://library.achievingthedream.org/herkimerabnormalpsych/chapter/vaginismus-306-51/

  Vaginismus is only present in females. […] Research shows that 0.17% of women in the United Kingdom have this disorder. Also, 5 out of 1000 marriages in Ireland reported having this problem. […] The problem occurs in 1% to 6% of women and is highly comorbid with dyspareunia. […] A study in 1993 by Rosen and colleagues estimate that the rates of vaginismus range from 5% to 17%. […] 2 out of 1000 women have this. However, it could be higher, because women are embarrassed and it is not commonly known about and often misdiagnosed. […] In the United States, 47% of women with this disorder are single or dating, while 53% are married. […] The majority (53%) are ages 26 to 35. Next, women aged 36-50 make up 26% of those with the disorder. 18% are 25 or younger and 9% are 51 or older.

• #26 The role of personal factors in quality of life among Iranian women with vaginismus: a path analysis | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Full Text

  https://hqlo.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12955-021-01799-5

  The aim of this study was to provide a path model for assessing the direct and/or indirect effects of psychological/behavioral parameters on health-related quality of life among women with vaginismus. […] Although the prevalence of the disorder is unknown, studies demonstrated that vaginismus is one of the most common sexual disorders among women that generally can influence health-related quality of life (HRQoL), well-being and sexual health. […] For instance, vaginismus prevalence is estimated to be around 15.5% and 68% among studied samples in the United Kingdom and Ghana respectively. […] There are few studies about vaginismus among Iranian women with a prevalence of 20.1%. […] The association between women’s sexual disorders and psychological problems such as depression and anxiety have been confirmed in various studies. […] Anxiety and depression are important components in predicting health-related quality of life among those suffering from vaginismus.

• #27 Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (Vaginismus) | 5-Minute Clinical Consult

  https://www.unboundmedicine.com/5minute/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816419/3.0/Genito_Pelvic_Pain_Penetration_Disorder__Vaginismus_

  Incidence The incidence of vaginismus is thought to be about 117% per year worldwide. In North America, 1221% of women have genito-pelvic pain of varying etiologies (1). […] True prevalence is unknown due to limited data/reporting. […] Population-based studies report prevalence rates of 0.530%. […] Affects women in all age groups […] Approximately 15% of women in North America report recurrent pain during intercourse.

• #28 Vaginismus (306.51) – Abnormal Psychology

  https://library.achievingthedream.org/herkimerabnormalpsych/chapter/vaginismus-306-51/

  Vaginismus is only present in females. […] Research shows that 0.17% of women in the United Kingdom have this disorder. Also, 5 out of 1000 marriages in Ireland reported having this problem. […] The problem occurs in 1% to 6% of women and is highly comorbid with dyspareunia. […] A study in 1993 by Rosen and colleagues estimate that the rates of vaginismus range from 5% to 17%. […] 2 out of 1000 women have this. However, it could be higher, because women are embarrassed and it is not commonly known about and often misdiagnosed. […] In the United States, 47% of women with this disorder are single or dating, while 53% are married. […] The majority (53%) are ages 26 to 35. Next, women aged 36-50 make up 26% of those with the disorder. 18% are 25 or younger and 9% are 51 or older.

• #29 How Common is Vaginismus According to Statistics?

  https://www.vuvatech.com/blogs/vuvagirlblog/how-common-is-vaginismus-according-to-statistics?srsltid=AfmBOoqUcZFCC4aRW80xeu7GotrvhlXlNalO08Baln8vReB_j75zxVRy

  Over 3 years, UK relationship counseling organization relate estimated that 7% of their diagnoses were vaginismus (equating to between 150 and 200 cases). […] Dr. Harold I. Lief of the University of Pennsylvania estimates the occurrence of vaginismus to be around 4% of women and that’s only based on those seeking treatment. […] Dr. Marian E. Dunn, Director of the Center for Human Sexuality at the State University of New York Health Science Center in Brooklyn says that around 40% of women visiting them have vaginismus. […] 47% of vaginismus sufferers are either single or dating. […] 53% of women with vaginismus are married. […] 18% of vaginismus complaints come from women under 25 years old, according to a private American clinic. […] 26% of women with vaginismus are between 36 to 50 years old (and most did not seek help for a long time sometimes due to late marriage or marital issues due to the condition). […] 9% of vaginismus sufferers are 51 years of age or older.

• #30 How common is Vaginismus? — Sex Hypnotherapy

  https://www.sexualsolution.co.uk/blog/how-common-is-vaginismus

  Vaginismus, or genito pelvic pain penetration disorder, is a condition not discussed openly. It is often a hidden sexual problem. […] This condition is widespread across the world. During the past 14 years of my private sex hypnotherapy practice, I have worked with many women who want to have sex. However, fear and vaginismus holds them back. […] It is estimated 4 – 17 percent of women are affected by it. Although the true number may be higher, many women unfortunately do not seek vaginismus treatment or diagnosis. […] 47% of women who suffer from vaginismus are either single or dating. 53% of women are married. 53% of women who experience vaginismus are aged between 26 and 35 years. 26% of women are between 36 and 50 years old. […] It is my hope that this article gives you an understanding of how common vaginismus is.

• #31 Vaginismus (306.51) – Abnormal Psychology

  https://library.achievingthedream.org/herkimerabnormalpsych/chapter/vaginismus-306-51/

  Vaginismus is only present in females. […] Research shows that 0.17% of women in the United Kingdom have this disorder. Also, 5 out of 1000 marriages in Ireland reported having this problem. […] The problem occurs in 1% to 6% of women and is highly comorbid with dyspareunia. […] A study in 1993 by Rosen and colleagues estimate that the rates of vaginismus range from 5% to 17%. […] 2 out of 1000 women have this. However, it could be higher, because women are embarrassed and it is not commonly known about and often misdiagnosed. […] In the United States, 47% of women with this disorder are single or dating, while 53% are married. […] The majority (53%) are ages 26 to 35. Next, women aged 36-50 make up 26% of those with the disorder. 18% are 25 or younger and 9% are 51 or older.

• #32 How Common is Vaginismus According to Statistics?

  https://www.vuvatech.com/blogs/vuvagirlblog/how-common-is-vaginismus-according-to-statistics?srsltid=AfmBOoqUcZFCC4aRW80xeu7GotrvhlXlNalO08Baln8vReB_j75zxVRy

  Over 3 years, UK relationship counseling organization relate estimated that 7% of their diagnoses were vaginismus (equating to between 150 and 200 cases). […] Dr. Harold I. Lief of the University of Pennsylvania estimates the occurrence of vaginismus to be around 4% of women and that’s only based on those seeking treatment. […] Dr. Marian E. Dunn, Director of the Center for Human Sexuality at the State University of New York Health Science Center in Brooklyn says that around 40% of women visiting them have vaginismus. […] 47% of vaginismus sufferers are either single or dating. […] 53% of women with vaginismus are married. […] 18% of vaginismus complaints come from women under 25 years old, according to a private American clinic. […] 26% of women with vaginismus are between 36 to 50 years old (and most did not seek help for a long time sometimes due to late marriage or marital issues due to the condition). […] 9% of vaginismus sufferers are 51 years of age or older.

• #33 How common is Vaginismus? — Sex Hypnotherapy

  https://www.sexualsolution.co.uk/blog/how-common-is-vaginismus

  Vaginismus, or genito pelvic pain penetration disorder, is a condition not discussed openly. It is often a hidden sexual problem. […] This condition is widespread across the world. During the past 14 years of my private sex hypnotherapy practice, I have worked with many women who want to have sex. However, fear and vaginismus holds them back. […] It is estimated 4 – 17 percent of women are affected by it. Although the true number may be higher, many women unfortunately do not seek vaginismus treatment or diagnosis. […] 47% of women who suffer from vaginismus are either single or dating. 53% of women are married. 53% of women who experience vaginismus are aged between 26 and 35 years. 26% of women are between 36 and 50 years old. […] It is my hope that this article gives you an understanding of how common vaginismus is.

• #34 Vaginismus: Classification, Diagnosis, Etiology and Treatment

  https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/730325

  Vaginismus continues to be perceived by clinicians as a well-understood and easily treatable female sexual dysfunction despite the lack of research supporting these claims. […] Although the population prevalence of vaginismus remains unknown, it has been reported to range between 5 and 17% in clinical settings. […] There has been a 150-year consensus concerning the definition of vaginismus as an involuntary vaginal muscle spasm despite the lack of research supporting the vaginal muscle spasm criterion. […] Recently, new definitions of vaginismus integrating pelvic floor muscle tension, genital pain and fear have been proposed. […] Most psychological factors that have been proposed to play a role in the etiology of vaginismus (i.e., abuse, relationship factors, negative sexual attitudes and lack of sexual education) have not received empirical support.

• #35 Vaginismus: Classification, Diagnosis, Etiology and Treatment

  https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/730325

  Vaginismus continues to be perceived by clinicians as a well-understood and easily treatable female sexual dysfunction despite the lack of research supporting these claims. […] Although the population prevalence of vaginismus remains unknown, it has been reported to range between 5 and 17% in clinical settings. […] There has been a 150-year consensus concerning the definition of vaginismus as an involuntary vaginal muscle spasm despite the lack of research supporting the vaginal muscle spasm criterion. […] Recently, new definitions of vaginismus integrating pelvic floor muscle tension, genital pain and fear have been proposed. […] Most psychological factors that have been proposed to play a role in the etiology of vaginismus (i.e., abuse, relationship factors, negative sexual attitudes and lack of sexual education) have not received empirical support.

• #36 When did the confusion between vulvodynia and vaginismus start? – Journal of the Turkish-German Gynecological Association

  https://jtgga.org/articles/when-did-the-confusion-between-vulvodynia-and-vaginismus-start/doi/jtgga.galenos.2024.2024-8-12

  Vulvodynia and vaginismus are frequently confused by both laypeople and healthcare professionals. […] The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders included dyspareunia and vaginismus into the newly created category of genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder, which remains a theoretical concept, lacking scientific validation. […] Although many women with vulvar pain may develop some degree of secondary vaginismus, introital pain alone does not define vaginismus. […] He concluded that this condition was not uncommon as he and a colleague observed 17 cases over a 24-month period.

• #37 Vaginismus: “Gone” But Not Forgotten

  https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/vaginismus-gone-not-forgotten

  The prevalence of GPPPD is, of course, unknown but likely to be high, since pain during intercourse (dyspareunia) is now included in this spectrum of problems. Cross-sectional prevalence estimates available for dyspareunia have often been close to 15%, but there are no reliable estimates for the prevalence of vaginismus. […] Considering the high prevalence of pain during intercourse, clinicians who assess sexual function are advised to ask about pain even if it is not a presenting complaint. […] Although there is no systematic evidence to support these etiological factors, recent studies from Turkey and other predominantly Muslim countries suggest a very high prevalence of vaginismus. […] It remains to be seen whether such reports can be verified.

• #38 Vaginismus: Classification, Diagnosis, Etiology and Treatment – Page 3

  https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/730325_3

  Vaginismus continues to be perceived by clinicians as a well-understood and easily treatable female sexual dysfunction despite the lack of research supporting these claims. […] Although the population prevalence of vaginismus remains unknown, it has been reported to range between 5 and 17% in clinical settings. […] There has been a 150-year consensus concerning the definition of vaginismus as an involuntary vaginal muscle spasm despite the lack of research supporting the vaginal muscle spasm criterion. […] Women with vaginismus may demonstrate high pelvic floor muscle tension and/or experience genital pain and/or report fearing vaginal penetration or pain. […] Vaginismus and dyspareunia are currently considered two mutually exclusive disorders despite empirical findings demonstrating that health practitioners have a great difficulty reliably differentiating both conditions. […] Recently, new definitions of vaginismus integrating pelvic floor muscle tension, genital pain and fear have been proposed.

• #39 Vaginismus – VALINTERMED treatment in Valencia

  https://valintermed.com/en/medlibrary/vaginismus/

  According to various studies, the prevalence of vaginismus among women ranges from 0.5% to 6%. […] It is noteworthy that vaginismus can be both an independent condition and a symptom of other diseases, which complicates its diagnosis. […] An important aspect is that many women do not seek medical help, which can hide the true prevalence of the problem. […] Monitoring of patients with vaginismus is carried out during the treatment process.

• #40 What is Vaginismus: Everything You Need to Know About This Painful Condition | New Age Women’s Health

  https://www.toplinemd.com/new-age-womens-health/what-is-vaginismus-everything-you-need-to-know-about-this-painful-condition/

  If you are experiencing pain during sexual intercourse, you may have vaginismus. According to the statistics, one percent of women worldwide suffer from vaginismus. […] Unfortunately, vaginismus is an under-researched condition that requires more analysis. Since female sexuality is still stigmatized, it is believed that women underreport sexual dysfunctions such as vaginismus. […] Diagnosing vaginismus is straightforward. The doctor will take your medical history, and you will undergo a pelvic exam. Before proceeding with treatment, the medical expert will rule out potential underlying causes (like infection). To get diagnosed with vaginismus, you will have to have at least one of the following symptoms for a minimum of six months: […] Since this condition has many causes, it is important to receive treatment for both psychological and physical factors if necessary.

• #41 Patients’ recommendations to improve help-seeking for vaginismus: a qualitative study | BMC Women’s Health | Full Text

  https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-024-03026-x

  Challenges to help-seeking for vaginismus can lead to reduced rates of treatment success in clinical practice. Research indicates that the medical system can be androcentric which has led to women not receiving appropriate support for their sexual health problems. Many healthcare professionals are also lacking understanding of vaginismus as a condition, its symptoms, and its treatment. Moreover, there is low social awareness of vaginismus, which means that women often do not realise that they have the condition to know to seek help, nor where or how to seek help for it. […] Research on vaginismus has been clinically focused on the affected genitalia, symptomology, and treatment. There is a lack of research on womens experiences of seeking and receiving help for vaginismus from their perspective. The existing research on the recommendations to improve healthcare experiences for women with vaginismus is largely produced from the perspective of healthcare professionals or health-based researchers. However, people with vaginismus have important knowledges on the lived experiences of the condition and navigating the healthcare system. Their direct feedback and recommendations are therefore pivotal to identify and address issues in healthcare management of vaginismus.

• #42 Patients’ recommendations to improve help-seeking for vaginismus: a qualitative study | BMC Women’s Health | Full Text

  https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-024-03026-x

  Women who have vaginismus often face barriers to seek and receive appropriate help and healthcare for the condition. This is because vaginismus is an overlooked yet common female sexual pain disorder. While the exact incidence of vaginismus is unknown, the condition is estimated to affect anywhere between 1 and 7% of the global female population. The impacts of vaginismus on women can be devastating. Women with vaginismus often feel inadequate, undesirable, and worthless. The condition is a leading cause of unconsummated relationships and marriages. Vaginismus impacts womens intimacy with their partners and their ability to start a family. Women with vaginismus tend to have higher rates of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, and exacerbated pre-existing mental health illnesses.

• #43 Vaginismus – VALINTERMED treatment in Valencia

  https://valintermed.com/en/medlibrary/vaginismus/

  According to various studies, the prevalence of vaginismus among women ranges from 0.5% to 6%. […] It is noteworthy that vaginismus can be both an independent condition and a symptom of other diseases, which complicates its diagnosis. […] An important aspect is that many women do not seek medical help, which can hide the true prevalence of the problem. […] Monitoring of patients with vaginismus is carried out during the treatment process.

• #44 Vaginismus: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

  https://resources.healthgrades.com/right-care/womens-health/vaginismus

  Vaginismus is a condition in which the vagina involuntarily tenses up. This could happen at the start of sexual intercourse or during a pelvic exam, or while inserting a suppository, tampon, diaphragm, or any other type of uterine device. […] Experts estimate vaginismus affects up to 1% of the female population. However, statistics are not exact, as the condition may cause embarrassment that prevents women from discussing it with their doctors. […] Most women with vaginismus develop the condition in their teens or early adulthood, and may notice symptoms the first time they have sex or use a tampon. […] Vaginismus can make sexual intercourse painful, uncomfortable or even impossible to tolerate. […] A number of factors can increase the risk of developing vaginismus. Not all people with risk factors will have vaginismus.

• #45 Vaginismus Treatment: Clinical Trials Follow Up 241 Patients

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5440634/

  Vaginismus is mostly unknown among clinicians and women. Vaginismus causes women to have fear, anxiety, and pain with penetration attempts. The prevalence rate of vaginismus in a clinical setting has been estimated as 5% to 17%, and it is believed to be one of the more prevalent female sexual dysfunctions. Different psychological factors have been associated with vaginismus, such as traumatic sexual experiences, sexual abuse, a strict religious and/or strict sexual upbringing, fear and/or anxiety issues, and being held down at a young age during catheterization or enemas, but it is not always associated with psychological issues and some patients give a negative history for those factors. Vaginismus frequently leads to marital problems and depression and to feelings of isolation, is a major cause of unconsummated marriages, is an inability to tolerate GYN examinations, and is not tolerated in cultures with arranged marriages, often resulting in an annulment. The successful use of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA; Allergan, Irvine, CA, USA) injections to treat secondary vaginismus was first described as a case report in 1997 and later developed by different investigators. The purpose of this report was to discuss a large cohort of women, many with failed prior treatments, who were treated using a program approved by an institutional review board (IRB) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for continued research, which included a multimodal program of intravaginal injections of Botox and bupivacaine, progressive dilation under conscious sedation, use of an indwelling dilator, and postprocedure counseling, support, and follow up. The primary end point was the ability to achieve pain-free intercourse after treatment as reported in a daily log kept by the patient, ongoing communication with Dr Pacik, and FSFI reports. After treatment, 171 patients (71%) achieved pain-free intercourse, which was achieved at a mean of 5.1 weeks (median = 2.5) as noted by personal communications and FSFI scores.

• #46 Patients’ recommendations to improve help-seeking for vaginismus: a qualitative study | BMC Women’s Health | Full Text

  https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-024-03026-x

  Challenges to help-seeking for vaginismus can lead to reduced rates of treatment success in clinical practice. Research indicates that the medical system can be androcentric which has led to women not receiving appropriate support for their sexual health problems. Many healthcare professionals are also lacking understanding of vaginismus as a condition, its symptoms, and its treatment. Moreover, there is low social awareness of vaginismus, which means that women often do not realise that they have the condition to know to seek help, nor where or how to seek help for it. […] Research on vaginismus has been clinically focused on the affected genitalia, symptomology, and treatment. There is a lack of research on womens experiences of seeking and receiving help for vaginismus from their perspective. The existing research on the recommendations to improve healthcare experiences for women with vaginismus is largely produced from the perspective of healthcare professionals or health-based researchers. However, people with vaginismus have important knowledges on the lived experiences of the condition and navigating the healthcare system. Their direct feedback and recommendations are therefore pivotal to identify and address issues in healthcare management of vaginismus.

• #47 When did the confusion between vulvodynia and vaginismus start? – Journal of the Turkish-German Gynecological Association

  https://jtgga.org/articles/when-did-the-confusion-between-vulvodynia-and-vaginismus-start/doi/jtgga.galenos.2024.2024-8-12

  Vulvodynia and vaginismus are frequently confused by both laypeople and healthcare professionals. […] The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders included dyspareunia and vaginismus into the newly created category of genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder, which remains a theoretical concept, lacking scientific validation. […] Although many women with vulvar pain may develop some degree of secondary vaginismus, introital pain alone does not define vaginismus. […] He concluded that this condition was not uncommon as he and a colleague observed 17 cases over a 24-month period.

• #48 How Common is Vaginismus According to Statistics?

  https://www.vuvatech.com/blogs/vuvagirlblog/how-common-is-vaginismus-according-to-statistics?srsltid=AfmBOoqUcZFCC4aRW80xeu7GotrvhlXlNalO08Baln8vReB_j75zxVRy

  Women do not always feel comfortable seeking help for the condition and to make matters worse, incorrect diagnoses are quite common. […] The general consensus in the medical industry is that approximately one in two women will develop vaginismus. […] Incidences of vaginismus are thought to be between 1 and 17% per year worldwide. […] 12 to 21% of North American women report some type of genito-pelvic pain to healthcare providers, and approximately 15% of North American women report that they experience dyspareunia (painful sex) regularly. […] Around 0.17% of females between 15 and 64 years of age (equating to over 27,200) in the UK have vaginismus. […] A survey of women consulting a birth control clinic concluded that 16 in 100 women displayed vaginismus symptoms. […] A sexual specialist Doctor in Ireland estimated that 5 in 1000 marriages in Ireland were affected by vaginismus.

• #49 Fast Facts: What You Need to Know About Vaginismus – HealthyWomen

  https://www.healthywomen.org/your-health/your-body/what-you-need-know-vaginismus

  Vaginismus is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the American Psychological Association’s manual of official psychiatric diagnoses, because of the psychological aspects of the condition. […] Vaginismus can also lead to trouble conceiving, increased fertility problems and increased cesarean section rates. Further, people with vaginismus are also less likely to seek health care because they’re afraid of having internal pelvic exams, which puts them at risk for undetected cervical cancer, STIs and more.

• #50

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00404-024-07871-x

  Vulvodynia and vaginismus are pain disorders associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. […] A population-based retrospective cohort study that examined the maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with vulvodynia and/or vaginismus (VV) found evidence that VV was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. […] The objective of our study was to evaluate obstetric outcomes of women with VV by conducting a systematic review of the published literature. […] Women affected by VV were more likely to deliver by cesarean section than women without VV in all the cohort studies included in this review. […] Overall, cesarean sections were performed in 40.3% of the deliveries of women with VV, which is greater than both the non-cases (29.8%) and the estimated worldwide cesarean section rate of 21%.

• #51

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00404-024-07871-x

  Vulvodynia and vaginismus are pain disorders associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. […] A population-based retrospective cohort study that examined the maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with vulvodynia and/or vaginismus (VV) found evidence that VV was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. […] The objective of our study was to evaluate obstetric outcomes of women with VV by conducting a systematic review of the published literature. […] Women affected by VV were more likely to deliver by cesarean section than women without VV in all the cohort studies included in this review. […] Overall, cesarean sections were performed in 40.3% of the deliveries of women with VV, which is greater than both the non-cases (29.8%) and the estimated worldwide cesarean section rate of 21%.

• #52 Patients’ recommendations to improve help-seeking for vaginismus: a qualitative study | BMC Women’s Health | Full Text

  https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-024-03026-x

  Women who have vaginismus often face barriers to seek and receive appropriate help and healthcare for the condition. This is because vaginismus is an overlooked yet common female sexual pain disorder. While the exact incidence of vaginismus is unknown, the condition is estimated to affect anywhere between 1 and 7% of the global female population. The impacts of vaginismus on women can be devastating. Women with vaginismus often feel inadequate, undesirable, and worthless. The condition is a leading cause of unconsummated relationships and marriages. Vaginismus impacts womens intimacy with their partners and their ability to start a family. Women with vaginismus tend to have higher rates of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, and exacerbated pre-existing mental health illnesses.

• #53 Hitit Medical Journal » Submission » Headache, Anxiety And Depression In Patients With Vaginismus

  https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/hititmedj/issue/75906/1138853

  Ama: Vajinismus cinsel salk polikliniine bavuran hastalar arasnda en sk rastlanan problemlerden biridir. […] Vaginismus is one of the most common problems among patients who apply to the sexual health outpatient clinic. […] Bu çalışma 2021 yılında gerçekleştirilmiş ve vajinismus hastalarında baş ağrısı özellikleri, depresyon ve anksiyete incelenmiştir. […] This study was conducted in 2021 and examined the headache characteristics, depression and anxiety in vaginismus patients. […] Sonuçlar: 50 vajinismus hastasının %46’sında (n:23) baş ağrısı mevcuttu. […] Results: Headache was present in 46% (n:23) of 50 vaginismus patients. […] Baş ağrısı vajinismus hastalarında yaygın bir nörolojik belirtidir ve migren sıklığı gerilim tipi baş ağrılarından daha yüksektir. […] Headache is a common neurological symptom in vaginismus patients, and the frequency of migraine is higher than tension-type headaches.

• #54 Hitit Medical Journal » Submission » Headache, Anxiety And Depression In Patients With Vaginismus

  https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/hititmedj/issue/75906/1138853

  Anksiyete değerleri baş ağrısı yaşayan vajinismus hastalarında daha yüksektir. […] Anxiety values are higher in vaginismus patients experiencing a headache. […] Bu nedenle, baş ağrısı ve anksiyete vajinismus hastalarının takip ve tedavisinde dikkate alınmalıdır. […] Therefore, headache and anxiety should be considered in the follow-up and treatment of vaginismus patients.

• #55 Vaginismus: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

  https://resources.healthgrades.com/right-care/womens-health/vaginismus

  Risk factors for vaginismus include: First time having a pelvic exam, First time having sexual intercourse, Being a victim of sexual assault or trauma, Receiving an injury during childbirth, such as a vaginal tear, Anxiety or other mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). […] While vaginismus is not a serious medical condition, the symptoms can cause significant disruption to quality of life. Loss of intimacy can affect relationships with a partner or spouse, resulting in depression, anxiety, or loss of self-esteem. […] For women who wish to become pregnant, vaginismus may make conception impossible due to the inability to tolerate vaginal penetration. […] An annual pelvic exam is an essential part of a woman’s healthcare. Avoiding annual exams due to anxiety about vaginismus pain can result in lack of preventive screening for conditions such as HPV, or even delayed diagnoses of serious conditions such as ovarian or breast cancer.

• #56 Vaginismus Treatment: Clinical Trials Follow Up 241 Patients

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5440634/

  Vaginismus is mostly unknown among clinicians and women. Vaginismus causes women to have fear, anxiety, and pain with penetration attempts. The prevalence rate of vaginismus in a clinical setting has been estimated as 5% to 17%, and it is believed to be one of the more prevalent female sexual dysfunctions. Different psychological factors have been associated with vaginismus, such as traumatic sexual experiences, sexual abuse, a strict religious and/or strict sexual upbringing, fear and/or anxiety issues, and being held down at a young age during catheterization or enemas, but it is not always associated with psychological issues and some patients give a negative history for those factors. Vaginismus frequently leads to marital problems and depression and to feelings of isolation, is a major cause of unconsummated marriages, is an inability to tolerate GYN examinations, and is not tolerated in cultures with arranged marriages, often resulting in an annulment. The successful use of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA; Allergan, Irvine, CA, USA) injections to treat secondary vaginismus was first described as a case report in 1997 and later developed by different investigators. The purpose of this report was to discuss a large cohort of women, many with failed prior treatments, who were treated using a program approved by an institutional review board (IRB) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for continued research, which included a multimodal program of intravaginal injections of Botox and bupivacaine, progressive dilation under conscious sedation, use of an indwelling dilator, and postprocedure counseling, support, and follow up. The primary end point was the ability to achieve pain-free intercourse after treatment as reported in a daily log kept by the patient, ongoing communication with Dr Pacik, and FSFI reports. After treatment, 171 patients (71%) achieved pain-free intercourse, which was achieved at a mean of 5.1 weeks (median = 2.5) as noted by personal communications and FSFI scores.

• #57 Patients’ recommendations to improve help-seeking for vaginismus: a qualitative study | BMC Women’s Health | Full Text

  https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-024-03026-x

  Women who have vaginismus often face barriers to seek and receive appropriate help and healthcare for the condition. This is because vaginismus is an overlooked yet common female sexual pain disorder. While the exact incidence of vaginismus is unknown, the condition is estimated to affect anywhere between 1 and 7% of the global female population. The impacts of vaginismus on women can be devastating. Women with vaginismus often feel inadequate, undesirable, and worthless. The condition is a leading cause of unconsummated relationships and marriages. Vaginismus impacts womens intimacy with their partners and their ability to start a family. Women with vaginismus tend to have higher rates of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, and exacerbated pre-existing mental health illnesses.

• #58 Clinical assessment and management of vaginismus

  https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2024/january-february/clinical-assessment-and-management-of-vaginismus

  Vaginismus is one of the leading causes of painful sex (dyspareunia) for women. […] One study suggests that around 14% of Australian women report having experienced painful sex (dyspareunia) in the previous 12 months. One of the leading causes of dyspareunia is vaginismus. […] Changing definitions make it difficult to reliably estimate the prevalence of vaginismus. Estimating the prevalence of vaginismus is also made difficult by the stigma and shame attached to sex and sexual difficulties. As a result of these difficulties, no methodologically and epidemiologically sound prevalence estimates are available, although it is generally reported to affect somewhere between 1% and 6% of the general population. […] Given that people with vaginismus and pelvic pain more broadly often report feeling unheard or dismissed by health professionals, the first step in encountering these patients in a clinical situation should be validation that their pain is real, they are believed and the pain is not all in their head.

• #59 Vaginismus and pregnancy: epidemiological profile and management diffi | PRBM

  https://www.dovepress.com/vaginismus-and-pregnancy-epidemiological-profile-and-management-diffic-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PRBM

  Vaginismus affects up to 1% of the female population and often represents a physical manifestation of an underlying psychological problem. […] In Tunisia, we do not have specific data on the prevalence of vaginismus, as it remains a pathology not always declared by the patients, and it accounts for ~10%15% of the sexology consultations. […] Vaginismus prevalence is difficult to appreciate precisely, but the majority of authors place it between 1% and 2%. […] Since it still represents a taboo, the majority of affected women do not consult their gynecologist for this reason. […] Pregnancy and resulting neonatal follow-up visits represent an opportunity for health care providers to identify women with vaginismus. […] Prenatal care visits offer an opportunity to screen for women with vaginismus and to subsequently offer them guidance in a multidisciplinary setting.

• #60 Vaginismus: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

  https://resources.healthgrades.com/right-care/womens-health/vaginismus

  Risk factors for vaginismus include: First time having a pelvic exam, First time having sexual intercourse, Being a victim of sexual assault or trauma, Receiving an injury during childbirth, such as a vaginal tear, Anxiety or other mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). […] While vaginismus is not a serious medical condition, the symptoms can cause significant disruption to quality of life. Loss of intimacy can affect relationships with a partner or spouse, resulting in depression, anxiety, or loss of self-esteem. […] For women who wish to become pregnant, vaginismus may make conception impossible due to the inability to tolerate vaginal penetration. […] An annual pelvic exam is an essential part of a woman’s healthcare. Avoiding annual exams due to anxiety about vaginismus pain can result in lack of preventive screening for conditions such as HPV, or even delayed diagnoses of serious conditions such as ovarian or breast cancer.

• #61 Vaginismus – VALINTERMED treatment in Valencia

  https://valintermed.com/en/medlibrary/vaginismus/

  According to various studies, the prevalence of vaginismus among women ranges from 0.5% to 6%. […] It is noteworthy that vaginismus can be both an independent condition and a symptom of other diseases, which complicates its diagnosis. […] An important aspect is that many women do not seek medical help, which can hide the true prevalence of the problem. […] Monitoring of patients with vaginismus is carried out during the treatment process.

• #62 Vaginismus and pregnancy: epidemiological profile and management diffi | PRBM

  https://www.dovepress.com/vaginismus-and-pregnancy-epidemiological-profile-and-management-diffic-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PRBM

  Vaginismus affects up to 1% of the female population and often represents a physical manifestation of an underlying psychological problem. […] In Tunisia, we do not have specific data on the prevalence of vaginismus, as it remains a pathology not always declared by the patients, and it accounts for ~10%15% of the sexology consultations. […] Vaginismus prevalence is difficult to appreciate precisely, but the majority of authors place it between 1% and 2%. […] Since it still represents a taboo, the majority of affected women do not consult their gynecologist for this reason. […] Pregnancy and resulting neonatal follow-up visits represent an opportunity for health care providers to identify women with vaginismus. […] Prenatal care visits offer an opportunity to screen for women with vaginismus and to subsequently offer them guidance in a multidisciplinary setting.

• #63 Vaginismus and pregnancy: epidemiological profile and management diffi | PRBM

  https://www.dovepress.com/vaginismus-and-pregnancy-epidemiological-profile-and-management-diffic-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PRBM

  Vaginismus affects up to 1% of the female population and often represents a physical manifestation of an underlying psychological problem. […] In Tunisia, we do not have specific data on the prevalence of vaginismus, as it remains a pathology not always declared by the patients, and it accounts for ~10%15% of the sexology consultations. […] Vaginismus prevalence is difficult to appreciate precisely, but the majority of authors place it between 1% and 2%. […] Since it still represents a taboo, the majority of affected women do not consult their gynecologist for this reason. […] Pregnancy and resulting neonatal follow-up visits represent an opportunity for health care providers to identify women with vaginismus. […] Prenatal care visits offer an opportunity to screen for women with vaginismus and to subsequently offer them guidance in a multidisciplinary setting.

• #64 Vaginismus and pregnancy: epidemiological profile and management diffi | PRBM

  https://www.dovepress.com/vaginismus-and-pregnancy-epidemiological-profile-and-management-diffic-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PRBM

  Follow-up during the postpartum period may be equally important as identifying and adequately treating women with vaginismus during pregnancy and delivery. […] The diagnosis is often made during a pregnancy request or during a pregnancy where the woman is obliged to consult a gynecologist after a long period of eviction.

• #65 Vaginismus and pregnancy: epidemiological profile and management diffi | PRBM

  https://www.dovepress.com/vaginismus-and-pregnancy-epidemiological-profile-and-management-diffic-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PRBM

  Follow-up during the postpartum period may be equally important as identifying and adequately treating women with vaginismus during pregnancy and delivery. […] The diagnosis is often made during a pregnancy request or during a pregnancy where the woman is obliged to consult a gynecologist after a long period of eviction.

• #66 Self-diagnosing vaginismus found accurate vs health care provider diagnosis

  https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/self-diagnosing-vaginismus-found-accurate-vs-health-care-provider-diagnosis

  Self-diagnosing vaginismus found accurate vs health care provider diagnosis In a recent study presented at the 25th Annual Fall Scientific Meeting of SMSNA, similar diagnosing success was reported between self-diagnosis and diagnosis from a health care provider for vaginismus. The accuracy of self-diagnosis for vaginismus using a web-based list of symptoms is similar to that of a diagnosis from a health care provider (HCP). Vaginismus is a subcategory of genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD), presenting as spasms of the pelvic floor muscle. A prevalence of approximately 5% to 17% has been reported among US women, though the condition is often overlooked, meaning these estimates may not reflect the true prevalence. Estimates of vaginismus may be low because of inadequate sexual health training among HCPs and reluctance among women to discuss their symptoms with their HCP. Therefore, an internet-based diagnostic tool may increase reach among women with GPPPD and improve care. Significant agreement was reported between self-diagnosis and HCP diagnosis of vaginismus. These results indicated accuracy of self-diagnosis vaginismus using an internet-based tool when compared to an HCP diagnosis during a clinical visit. Investigators concluded a web-based tool could shorten the time it takes for patients to be diagnosed and receive care.

• #67 Vaginismus: Diagnostic Challenges and Proposed Diagnostic Criteria

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10767778/

  According to the newly proposed criteria, those who meet the subjective, objective, and frequency duration criteria and the exclusion criteria are classified as having vaginismus, whereas those who do not meet the frequency duration criteria are classified as having transient vaginismus. […] We expect that the proposed diagnostic criteria would be useful for practicing clinicians worldwide in confidently diagnosing vaginismus and providing appropriate care to those in need. […] To summarize, vaginismus, a common female sexual disorder, is challenging to diagnose, and the proposed criteria are likely to help practicing clinicians worldwide overcome these challenges.

• #68 Clinical assessment and management of vaginismus

  https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2024/january-february/clinical-assessment-and-management-of-vaginismus

  The latest clinical practice guideline on female sexual dysfunction recommends an individualised, multidisciplinary approach for vaginismus, tailored according to an individual’s underlying contributing factors and any existing comorbidities. […] Achieving acceptable patient outcomes with people with vaginismus can be time-consuming and take some trial and error. A 2018 systematic review by Maseroli et al suggests around 80% of people with vaginismus responded to multimodal treatment; however, the results varied across the type of multimodal therapy used.

• #69 Clinical assessment and management of vaginismus

  https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2024/january-february/clinical-assessment-and-management-of-vaginismus

  The latest clinical practice guideline on female sexual dysfunction recommends an individualised, multidisciplinary approach for vaginismus, tailored according to an individual’s underlying contributing factors and any existing comorbidities. […] Achieving acceptable patient outcomes with people with vaginismus can be time-consuming and take some trial and error. A 2018 systematic review by Maseroli et al suggests around 80% of people with vaginismus responded to multimodal treatment; however, the results varied across the type of multimodal therapy used.

• #70 Vaginismus Treatment: Clinical Trials Follow Up 241 Patients

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5440634/

  Vaginismus is mostly unknown among clinicians and women. Vaginismus causes women to have fear, anxiety, and pain with penetration attempts. The prevalence rate of vaginismus in a clinical setting has been estimated as 5% to 17%, and it is believed to be one of the more prevalent female sexual dysfunctions. Different psychological factors have been associated with vaginismus, such as traumatic sexual experiences, sexual abuse, a strict religious and/or strict sexual upbringing, fear and/or anxiety issues, and being held down at a young age during catheterization or enemas, but it is not always associated with psychological issues and some patients give a negative history for those factors. Vaginismus frequently leads to marital problems and depression and to feelings of isolation, is a major cause of unconsummated marriages, is an inability to tolerate GYN examinations, and is not tolerated in cultures with arranged marriages, often resulting in an annulment. The successful use of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA; Allergan, Irvine, CA, USA) injections to treat secondary vaginismus was first described as a case report in 1997 and later developed by different investigators. The purpose of this report was to discuss a large cohort of women, many with failed prior treatments, who were treated using a program approved by an institutional review board (IRB) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for continued research, which included a multimodal program of intravaginal injections of Botox and bupivacaine, progressive dilation under conscious sedation, use of an indwelling dilator, and postprocedure counseling, support, and follow up. The primary end point was the ability to achieve pain-free intercourse after treatment as reported in a daily log kept by the patient, ongoing communication with Dr Pacik, and FSFI reports. After treatment, 171 patients (71%) achieved pain-free intercourse, which was achieved at a mean of 5.1 weeks (median = 2.5) as noted by personal communications and FSFI scores.

• #71 Vaginismus: Classification, Diagnosis, Etiology and Treatment

  https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/730325

  Current treatment options for vaginismus include pelvic floor physiotherapy, pharmacological treatments, general psychotherapy and sex/cognitive behavioral therapy. […] To date the only randomized controlled treatment outcome study that investigated the efficacy of cognitive behavioral sex therapy for vaginismus does not support the notion that vaginismus is an easily treatable condition. […] A new conceptualization of vaginismus as a 'genitopelvic pain/penetration disorder’, characterized by the inability to have vaginal intercourse/penetration, genitopelvic pain, fear of vaginal intercourse/penetration, and tension of the pelvic floor muscles, has recently been proposed.

• #72 Vaginismus: current approach – O&G Magazine

  https://www.ogmagazine.org.au/14/4-14/vaginismus-current-approach/

  Vaginismus is defined as difficulty to allow vaginal entry despite the womans express wish to do so, assuming the absence of obvious organic pathology, such as imperforated hymen. […] The true incidence of vaginismus is unknown through lack of adequate epidemiology. It is certain that vaginismus is common. […] In summary, vaginismus is a common condition that responds well to a coordinated approach of education, physiotherapy and psychotherapy. However, it should also be said that the underlying issues of negative affective appraisal of sexual stimuli and phobia of vaginal penetration might remain to a variable extent in many patients.

• #73 Vaginismus: Diagnostic Challenges and Proposed Diagnostic Criteria

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10767778/

  According to the newly proposed criteria, those who meet the subjective, objective, and frequency duration criteria and the exclusion criteria are classified as having vaginismus, whereas those who do not meet the frequency duration criteria are classified as having transient vaginismus. […] We expect that the proposed diagnostic criteria would be useful for practicing clinicians worldwide in confidently diagnosing vaginismus and providing appropriate care to those in need. […] To summarize, vaginismus, a common female sexual disorder, is challenging to diagnose, and the proposed criteria are likely to help practicing clinicians worldwide overcome these challenges.

• #74 Patients’ recommendations to improve help-seeking for vaginismus: a qualitative study | BMC Women’s Health | Full Text

  https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-024-03026-x

  The findings from this study can inform healthcare practice and policy to foster better synchronicity between health professionals and their patients perceptions and expectations of treating vaginismus. The strategies recommended to increase awareness of vaginismus and challenge its stigma should be considered in policy to incite a culture of change in healthcare practice and broader society.

• #75

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00404-024-07871-x

  About one-quarter of the cesarean sections among VV cases were done upon maternal request, which may reflect the fear of experiencing the pain of childbirth and vulvovaginal trauma among these women. […] The greatest proportion of cesarean sections among VV cases was elective in nature. […] For instance, our study observed a higher rate of suspected cephalo-pelvic disproportion and non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracings found in patients with VV, which likely contributed to the higher rate of cesarean section among these women. […] Our results demonstrate that VV are high-risk conditions during pregnancy and reinforce the necessity of identifying these patients, offering support, education, and treatment of these conditions prior to pregnancy to reduce the rate of avoidable cesarean sections and fertility treatments performed in this obstetrical population. […] Further research is greatly needed to clarify the risks of maternal and newborn morbidities associated with these conditions to assist obstetrical caregivers to counsel obstetrical patients with VV.

• #76 Patients’ recommendations to improve help-seeking for vaginismus: a qualitative study | BMC Women’s Health | Full Text

  https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-024-03026-x

  The findings from this study can inform healthcare practice and policy to foster better synchronicity between health professionals and their patients perceptions and expectations of treating vaginismus. The strategies recommended to increase awareness of vaginismus and challenge its stigma should be considered in policy to incite a culture of change in healthcare practice and broader society.

Zobacz więcej