Effect of psychiatric symptoms and male sexual function of couples on the success of treatment for vaginismus
Emre Baser
A D , Demet Aydogan Kirmizi A , Eylem Unlubilgin B , Melike Demir Caltekin A , Nurhan Bolat Meriç C and Ozlem Moraloglu Tekin B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Yozgat Bozok University, Yozgat 66100, Turkey.
B Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Women’s Health Training and Research Hospital, Yeni Etlik Caddesi, Etlik/Ankara 06010, Turkey.
C Department of Psychology, Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Women’s Health Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
D Corresponding author. Email: emrebasermd@gmail.com
Sexual Health 17(5) 453-461 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH20116
Submitted: 8 July 2020 Accepted: 14 September 2020 Published: 13 November 2020
Abstract
Background: This study evaluated psychiatric factors and sexual functions of women with vaginismus and their partners during the treatment process. Methods: The study was performed on 110 women diagnosed with vaginismus and their partners. The women underwent cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and couples were divided into two groups: successful and unsuccessful therapy. Sexual function in couples was evaluated using the Golombok Rust Index of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS) in men and the Female Sexual Function Index in women. The psychopathological symptoms of participants were evaluated using the Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). Results: Of the 110 women in this study, 98 completed CBT and treatment was successful for 59 (60.2%). GRISS scores pertaining to the subscales of infrequency (66.7% and 39.0%), non-communication (56.4% and 22.0%), avoidance (76.9% and 52.5%), impotence (56.4% and 33.9%) and premature ejaculation (64.1% and 32.2%) before treatment were significantly lower in the successful than unsuccessful treatment group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between complaints of impotence and premature ejaculation in men and symptoms of depression and anxiety in men. In the successful treatment group, pretreatment values were lower for the SCL-90-R subscales of anxiety and depression in men and anxiety, depression, phobic anxiety and obsessive compulsiveness in women than in the unsuccessful treatment group. Conclusions: The psychiatric symptoms and sexual functions of couples were found to affect the success of treatment for vaginismus. As such, treatments should be administered in accordance with other symptoms present in couples.
Keywords: anxiety, cognitive behavioural therapy, depression, sexual dysfunction, vaginismus.
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