Woman and Partner-Perceived Partner Responses Predict Pain and Sexual Satisfaction in Provoked Vestibulodynia (PVD) Couples

Rosen, Natalie O.; Bergeron, Sophie; Leclerc, Bianca; Lambert, B.; Steben, Marc

doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.01957.x

Cited by 95 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Furthermore, the associations were mediated by greater patient and partner pain catastrophizing and self-efficacy [39,40]. In fact, partner pain catastrophizing and selfefficacy directly predicted patient pain, suggesting that the partner's view of the pain may modulate patient symptomatology [41].…”

Section: B Psychosocial Precursors/maintenance Factorsmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…In fact, partner pain catastrophizing and selfefficacy directly predicted patient pain, suggesting that the partner's view of the pain may modulate patient symptomatology [41]. Lower negative partner responses were also associated with more sexual satisfaction in women, and this association was mediated by greater dyadic adjustment [39,40]. Another study with a sample of 121 couples showed that facilitative partner responses -defined as partner responses that encourage a patient's efforts at adaptive coping with the pain (e.g., decreased avoidance) -were associated with lower vulvovaginal pain and higher sexual satisfaction [42].…”

Section: B Psychosocial Precursors/maintenance Factorsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…demonstrations of anger, were significantly associated with higher levels of pain during intercourse, suggesting that partner responses, both positive and negative, may play a role in the experience of vulvovaginal pain [38]. Results from a larger cross-sectional study of 191 couples indicated that higher solicitous partner responses -assessed from the perspective of both the 8 woman and partner -were associated with higher levels of women's pain intensity.Furthermore, the associations were mediated by greater patient and partner pain catastrophizing and self-efficacy [39,40]. In fact, partner pain catastrophizing and selfefficacy directly predicted patient pain, suggesting that the partner's view of the pain may modulate patient symptomatology [41].…”

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confidence: 92%

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Psychosexual aspects of vulvovaginal pain

Bergeron

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Steben

2014

Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecol

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Vulvovaginal pain problems are major health concerns in women of childbearing age.Controlled studies have shown that vulvovaginal pain can adversely affect women and their partners' general psychological well-being, relationship adjustment and overall quality of life. These women have significantly lower levels of sexual desire, arousal, and satisfaction, as well as a lower intercourse frequency than normal controls. They also report more anxiety and depression, in addition to more distress about their body image and genital self-image. Empirical studies indicate that specific psychological and relationship factors may increase vulvovaginal pain intensity and its psychosexual sequelae. Randomized clinical trials have shown that psychosexual interventions, namely cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), are efficacious in reducing vulvovaginal pain and improving associated psychosexual outcomes. Women reporting significant psychological, sexual and/or relationship distress should be referred for psychosexual treatment. A multimodal approach to care integrating psychosexual and medical management is thought to be optimal.Keywords: vulvovaginal pain, vulvodynia, provoked vestibulodynia, psychological adjustment, sexual function, cognitive-behavioral therapy 3 Vulvovaginal pain problems are major health concerns in women of all ages. As conditions which are often misdiagnosed, mismanaged, trivialized or ignored, they entail a great personal cost to patients and a significant financial cost to society [1]. A case in point is vulvodynia: a population-based study suggests that the lifetime cumulative incidence of vulvodynia is 16% [2, 3] and its incidence is thought to be increasing in young women [4,5]. In fact, many women suffering from vulvovaginal pain are under the age of 30, with community estimates showing that one in five women aged 18-29 report chronic dyspareunia [6]. In addition to disrupting all aspects of sexual function, controlled studies have shown that vulvovaginal pain can adversely affect women and their partners' general psychological well-being, relationship adjustment and overall quality of life [7, 8]. Because of their deleterious impact on sexuality and romantic relationships, vulvovaginal pain problems may indeed carry a heavier psychosocial burden in comparison to other pain problems common in women, with many patients reporting feelings of shame, inadequacy and low self-esteem [9]. Further, up to 45% of women with vulvodynia report a comorbid-pain condition, and having a comorbidity is associated with increased feelings of isolation and invalidation [10]. In terms of helpseeking behaviors, epidemiological results indicate that only 60% of women who report chronic vulvovaginal pain seek treatment, and 40% of these never receive a formal diagnosis [5]. A recent study involving a community sample showed that women saw an average of five physicians before diagnosis [10]. The quality of health care received by this patient population is thus less than optimal. It has been suggested that a multi...

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Section: B Psychosocial Precursors/maintenance Factorsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: B Psychosocial Precursors/maintenance Factorsmentioning

confidence: 94%

mentioning

confidence: 92%

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Psychosexual aspects of vulvovaginal pain

Bergeron

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Steben

2014

Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecol

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“…Only one prior study has investigated the association between male partner responses and sexual function -the primary measure of disability in vulvodynia (Rosen et al, 2010). No associations were found between solicitous and negative partner responses and sexual function, and facilitative responses were not assessed.…”

Section: Partner Responses To Pain and Sexual Functioningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of male partner responses on sexual function in women with vulvodynia and their partners: A dyadic daily experience study.

et al. 2014

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“…Further, pain and sexual impairment may be distinct and partially independent phenomena, as evidenced by the lack of significant correlation between pain intensity during intercourse and overall sexual function, as well as pain and sexual satisfaction, in a recent study of women with PVD (Rosen, Bergeron, Leclerc, Lambert, & Steban, 2010). Thus, interpersonal variables may show differing patterns of association with these two possibly unrelated yet critical outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Provoked Vestibulodynia: Mediators of the Associations Between Partner Responses, Pain, and Sexual Satisfaction

et al. 2012

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Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a chronic, recurrent vulvo-vaginal pain condition affecting 12% of the general population, and is associated with sexual dysfunction, psychological distress, and reduced quality of life. There is growing interest in the role of interpersonal variables in PVD, which have been widely neglected. In a sample of 175 couples, the present study examined the mediating roles of partner and participant catastrophizing and self-efficacy in the association between solicitous partner responses and pain intensity, and that of dyadic adjustment in the association between solicitous and negative partner responses and sexual satisfaction. Couples completed measures of partner responses, catastrophizing, self-efficacy, dyadic adjustment, and depression. Women also completed measures of pain, sexual satisfaction, and sexual function. Controlling for depression and solicitousness perceived by the other member of the couple, catastrophizing and self-efficacy partially mediated the association between higher solicitous responses and higher pain during intercourse, accounting for 26% and 25% of the variance in this association for woman and partner-perceived responses, respectively.For both women and partners, only pain catastrophizing was a unique mediator. Controlling for depression, sexual function and partner-perceived responses, dyadic adjustment partially mediated the association between higher participant-perceived solicitous responses and higher sexual satisfaction, and between higher participant-perceived negative responses and lower sexual satisfaction, accounting for 26% of the variance in each association. The current findings suggest that catastrophizing and dyadic adjustment may constitute a route by which partner responses exacerbate pain and increase or decrease sexual satisfaction in PVD couples.

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Woman and Partner-Perceived Partner Responses Predict Pain and Sexual Satisfaction in Provoked Vestibulodynia (PVD) Couples

Cited by 95 publications

References 59 publications

Psychosexual aspects of vulvovaginal pain

Psychosexual aspects of vulvovaginal pain

Impact of male partner responses on sexual function in women with vulvodynia and their partners: A dyadic daily experience study.

Provoked Vestibulodynia: Mediators of the Associations Between Partner Responses, Pain, and Sexual Satisfaction

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