THE EFFECT OF HYPNOTHERAPY ON SEXUAL FUNCTION, PAIN CATASTROPHIZING AND IRRATIONAL BELIEFS ABOUT FEAR OF SEX IN WOMEN WITH VAGINISMUS (GENITO-PELVIC PAIN/PENETRATION DISORDER)

Vaginismus is one of the sex disorders that can cause infertility and affect the concept of femininity and the ability to be a mother and it can also damage the mental and sexual health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of hypnotherapy on sexual function, pain catastrophizing, and irrational beliefs about fear of sex.

This study is a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and control group and a two-month follow-up. Using the available samples, 30 women with vaginismus were randomly divided into two groups of fifteen. The experimental group received three 90-minute sessions using hypnosis and systematic desensitization based on their individual progress. The control group received no treatment during this time. Both groups were assessed using three questionnaires of sexual function, pain catastrophizing, and irrational beliefs about fear of vaginal penetration in pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages.

The results showed a significant difference between the two groups in terms of sexual function, pain catastrophizing, and irrational beliefs about sex in the post-test and follow-up phase (p<0/001). After treatment, all 13 patients in the experimental group were able to have intercourse.

The results showed that the use of hypnosis provides the opportunity to treat women with vaginismus in fewer sessions without the presence of a spouse.