Sexual Pain Disorders

Sexual Pain Disorders - Conclusions

Vaginismus takes a tremendous toll on both partners in an unconsummated marriage. Typically, the woman feels inadequate, deficient, humiliated, and unwomanly, a “freak” who is different from all “normal women.” Often, she keeps the secret of her “virginal”…    

Erroneous Assumptions About Treatment

A number of assumptions about the treatment of vaginismus occur in the clinical literature. These must be challenged, especially when working with long-standing, treatment-refractory cases.

Assumption l: Husbands Are Only Peripherally Important in Treatment

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Major Theoretical Explanations of Vaginismus

Psychoanalytic Explanations and Treatment Approaches
Historically, psychoanalytic explanations of vaginismus conceived of the disorder as a rejection of the female role, a resistance against male sexual prerogative, a defense of the woman against real or fantasized…    

Vaginismus

Vaginismus is a perplexing and fascinating problem. The woman who experiences the involuntary, spasmodic contraction of the pubococcygeus and related muscles controlling the vaginal introitus may be unable to tolerate penetration or have intercourse but may be quite…    

Psychological Causes of Dyspareunia

In virtually all cases of dyspareunia, psychological factors are implicated either directly (as the cause) or indirectly (as a concomitant of the sexual discomfort). Psychological assessment must include a complete developmental history, with particular attention to the sexual…    

Treatment of Dyspareunia

As indicated above, dyspareunia is best treated via a cooperative team of professionals. A thorough physical examination by a skilled physician is necessary, along with laboratory tests, to make the initial diagnosis. Not only does the physical examination…    

Differential Diagnosis of Dyspareunia

Complaints of sexual pain - that is, dyspareunia or vulvodynia - typically fall into one of three categories - vulvar pain (pain at the opening or at the external genitalia), vaginal pain, or deep pain - or some…    

Physical Causes of Painful Intercourse in Males

In men as in women, there are a number of physical factors that may cause sexual discomfort. Pain is sometimes experienced in the testicular or glans area of the penis immediately after ejaculation. Infections of the prostate, bladder,…    

Sexual Pain Disorders

Sexual Pain Disorders Introduction

For most people, the anticipation of, or reflection about, sexual exchange conjures up images of sexual passion, abandonment, pleasure, and intimacy. However, for a significant…    

Physical Causes of Dyspareunia in Women

Because there are numerous physical conditions that can contribute to pain during sexual encounters, a careful physical examination and medical history are always indicated with such complaints. In women, common physical causes for coital discomfort include infections of…    

Dyspareunia

The complaint of dyspareunia is most typically regarded as a problem unique to women, and in fact, dyspareunia is relatively rare in men (Sandberg and Quevillon 1987). Bancroft (1989) indicated that only 1% of the men attending his…