Psychologic Profiles of and Sexual Function in Women With Vulvar Vestibulitis and Their Partners

Lankveld, J.J.D.M. van; Weijenborg, Philomeen; Kuile, Moniek M. ter

doi:10.1097/00006254-199702000-00014

Cited by 33 publications

(67 citation statements)

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“…The available evidence suggests that, as compared with controls, women suffering from VVS suffer from elevated levels of anxiety and hypervigilance (Granot et al, 2002;Payne, Binik, Amsel, & Khalifé, in press). There are conflicting reports concerning elevated levels of depressive symptoms, somatic complaints, other sexual dysfunction, and increased marital distress (e.g., Meana, Binik, Khalifé, & Cohen, 1999;van Lankveld, Weijenborg, & Ter Kuile, 1996). From a psychosocial point of view, sexual dysfunction sufferers could probably be characterized quite similarly (e.g., van den Hout & Barlow, 2000).…”

Section: Psychosocial Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Should Dyspareunia Be Retained as a Sexual Dysfunction in DSM-V? A Painful Classification Decision

Binik

2005

Arch Sex Behav

107

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Section: Psychosocial Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Should Dyspareunia Be Retained as a Sexual Dysfunction in DSM-V? A Painful Classification Decision

Binik

2005

Arch Sex Behav

107

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“…For instance, the expectation of pain may result in self-monitoring during sexual activity, and self-monitoring is known to inhibit the sexual response (Dove & Wiederman, 2000; Van den Hout & Barlow, 2000). Indeed, women with dyspareunia may experience lower sexual desire (Meana et al, 1997;Reissing et al, 2003), arousal (e.g., Reissing et al, 2003Wouda et al, 1998), and lubrication (Nunns & Mandal, 1997;Van Lankveld, Weijenborg, ter Kuile, 1996). In a sample of women with vulvar pain, the impaired sexual …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of Genital Pain in Young Women

2007

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Despite the high prevalence of genital pain in healthy young adult women, limited research has addressed genital pain during intercourse using contemporary models of multidimensional sexual function. The objectives of this study were threefold: (1) to identify differences in sexual functioning in women who experience genital pain compared to pain free women; (2) to identify predictors of sexual functioning in women with and without genital pain; and (3) to identify predictors of sexual satisfaction in women with and without genital pain. Sexually active female undergraduates (n = 651) were administered the Female Sexual Function Index and the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory. We evaluated the sexual factors that impact the sexual function of women with any pain (including high and low pain groups) versus women with no history of pain. Women with genital pain reported greater rates of sexual dysfunction as compared to pain-free women; however, sexual functioning in the high versus low pain groups was distinguished primarily by vaginal lubrication. Women in the high pain group showed negative correlations between domains of sexual satisfaction and genital pain frequency and intensity that were not found in the low pain group. For pain-free women, intercourse played a strong role in sexual satisfaction, whereas non-intercourse sexual behavior was central to sexual satisfaction in women who reported pain. The evaluation of levels of genital pain may provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the impairment of sexual function, sexual behavior, and sexual satisfaction. KeywordsGenital pain; Dyspareunia; Female sexual dysfunction; Sexual satisfaction; Sexual communication IntroductionContemporary models of female sexual response reflect the intercept of multiple dimensions of sexuality (Basson, 2001). Whereas sexual desire and arousal have often been the focus of these revised conceptualizations of sexual function, little attention has been given to the impact of different levels of genital pain (but see Abarbanel, 1978). This omission is surprising in light of the 15-20% of the female population aged 18-29 who experience dyspareunia (Laumann, Paik, & Rosen, 1999;Mercer et al., 2003). Dyspareunia is defined as the experience of pain during sexual intercourse and/or nonsexual pain with vaginal penetration (Binik, 2005). The symptom of pain in dyspareunia may be caused by multiple disease states, including underlying infection, allergies, muscle tension, hormone NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript deregulation, genital abnormalities, endometriosis or tissue damage following pelvic injury or surgery (Basson et al., 2004). Although women with dyspareunia may have pain with localized or generalized genital contact, the most common type of dyspareunia is Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome (VVS, also known as vestibulodynia), or pain concentrated at the vaginal vestibule (Friedman, 1995).In addition to the physical pain, dyspareunia may result in a cascade of psychological, s...

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“…Women with vulvar vestibulitis have been found to score higher on somatazation and shyness subscales than a normal population but had no difference in regard to psychological distress, extrovertism, risk of psychopathology and marital satisfaction. There was, however, more frequent problems with arousal, lubrication and negative emotions in the sexual interaction with their partner 36 . Vaginismus is often a complicating factor and has been found in 50± 60% 37,38 of cases, and this may have prognostic value.…”

Section: Psychopathology and Psychosexual Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Although little work has been done on the partners of women with vulvar vestibulitis, they have been found to have signi® cantly lower scores for psychopathology than a normal population 36 , and report nearly no problems or distress in a sexual situation.…”

Section: Psychopathology and Psychosexual Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%