The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on the Treatment of Vaginismus: a Single Case

Vaginismus is one of the most common GenitoPelvic Pain/Penetration Disorders, which is classified as either lifelong (primary) or acquired (secondary). The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on women with lifelong vaginismus. During a single-case experimental trial of multiple-baseline type, four women were included and diagnosed with lifelong vaginismus by a psychiatrist in a psychosexual clinic in Ahvaz. Full intercourse was evaluated daily based on the self-reports of participants. Secondary outcome measures (i.e.catastrophic cognitions, tightening, helplessness, sexual adjustment, avoidance, and penetration motivation were assessed in participants by a multidimensional vaginal penetration disorder questionnaire at baseline and after intervention. The subjects were entered into an eightweek Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program. The decreasing curve is compared with the baseline for each variable and considered the recovery index. After the treatment, all participants reported successful intercourse without pain and fear. The findings investigated that catastrophic cognitions, tightening, helplessness, sexual adjustment, avoidance, penetration motivation, sexual information, hypervigilance, optimism, and thoughts about genital incompatibility significantly improved by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in all participants(P < 0.05). Based on the results, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be considered an effective treatment for LLV. In addition, this study can enhance our knowledge about the fear-avoidance essence of vaginismus and develop treatment options for women with lifelong vaginismus. Future studies are recommended with larger sample sizes and control groups.