Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology

Treatment of a vaginismus case with cognitive behavioral therapy

Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology 2014; 24: Supplement S252-S252
Read: 1991 Published: 17 February 2021

In vaginismus, there is literature about that normal vajinal delivery is not possible and ıt is an indication for caesarean section. Vaginismus is the most common female sexual dysfunction. In the behavioral model of vaginismus, vaginal response against to sexual stimuli represents a conditioned fear response A 20 years old, high school graduate, housewife woman. Her husband is a 22 years old, high school graduate. She met his wife 5 years ago. After 1,5 year of engagement, they married. They had a 6-month’s old baby. Patient was complaining about inability to sexual intercourse with his wife. During their first application, their foreplay time was nearly 15 minutes. Sexual intercourse attempts decreased to once a week. After assessment, she was diagnosed as vaginismus. There was no additional axis 1 diagnosis. Unlike the other vaginismus patients, this case has been pregnant without sexual intercourse and can do normal delivery. The couple was evaluated for cognitive behavioral therapy. Glombok-Rust Sexual Satisfaction Scale (GRSSS) score was recorded as 38, avoidance score 2, vaginismus score 16. Arizona Scale score was 15. We planned eight CBT sessions. The GRSSS decreased to 26, avoidance score to 1, vaginismus score to 11. Arizona Scale score was decreased to 11 at the end of the 8-week treatment. CBT is an effective choice in the treatment of vaginismus. At the end of 8 sessions, the couple reported that the symptoms of vaginismus were eliminated and full intromission was feasible. The interesting point about this case is that, although symptoms of vaginismus have been persistent, she became pregnant and delivered her child vaginally. Contrary to the current literature, this case suggested that normal delivery could also be possible in some women with vaginismus. The current case also serves as a good example that disproves the myths suggesting that vaginismus can be cured after childbirth.

EISSN 2475-0581