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A Woman Who Never Could Have Coitus: Treatment of Lifelong Vaginismus

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Bio-Psycho-Social Obstetrics and Gynecology

Abstract

Vaginismus is commonly described as a persistent difficulty in allowing vaginal entry of a penis or other “objects” (e.g., tampons, fingers, speculum), despite the woman’s expressed wish to do so. Lifelong vaginismus is diagnosed when a woman has never been able to have intercourse. The prevalence rates vary between 0.4 and 6.0% in a general population. Research on the etiology of vaginismus is scarce, and no definitive cause has been identified. A fear-avoidance model for vaginismus is described. Gradual exposure therapy is nearly always combined with relaxation instruction. Only a few randomized and controlled effect studies have been conducted until now. The success (intercourse is possible) of these few studies varied greatly. The treatment success of exposure-type treatments is significantly greater than that of therapies that combine multiple treatment techniques.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Moniek M. ter Kuile PhD & P. T. M. Weijenborg MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Moniek M. ter Kuile PhD
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  2. P. T. M. Weijenborg MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Moniek M. ter Kuile PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gelre Hospitals Apeldoorn Location, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands

    K Marieke Paarlberg

  2. Wenckebach Institute, University of Groningen University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Harry B.M. van de Wiel

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ter Kuile, M.M., Weijenborg, P.T.M. (2017). A Woman Who Never Could Have Coitus: Treatment of Lifelong Vaginismus. In: Paarlberg, K., van de Wiel, H. (eds) Bio-Psycho-Social Obstetrics and Gynecology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40404-2_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40404-2_17

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-40402-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-40404-2

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