Vaginismus and dyspareunia: Is there a difference in clinical presentation?
- 1 January 2000
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Vol. 21 (3), 149-155
- https://doi.org/10.3109/01674820009075622
Abstract
The purpose of this exploratory study was to identify clinical similarities and differences in patients with vaginismus and dyspareunia. Thirty patients who were referred to an outpatient clinic for psychosomatic gynecology and sexology, with either of these two diagnoses, were investigated by means of a standardized interview, physical examination and self-rating questionnaires. Based on the interview, no significant differences were demonstrated between patients with vaginismus and dyspareunia, in the ability to insert a finger into the vagina or to have a gynecological examination. No differences were found in the reported level of pain during coitus (or attempted coitus), inserting one finger into the vagina, or during gynecological examination. Patients with vaginismus, however, more often reported that coitus was impossible. The physical examination and self-rating questionnaires showed no differences at all between patients with vaginismus and dyspareunia in palpated vaginal muscular tension and reported anxiety or tension during the examination. Moreover, in both groups redness and painful areas on the vulva were equally common. Redness and pain on the same location were more frequently present in the dyspareunia group. Patients with dyspareunia reported higher levels of pain during the examination. In conclusion, neither the interview nor the physical examination produced useful criteria to distinguish vaginismus from dyspareunia. A multi-axial description of these syndromes is suggested, rather than viewing them as two separate disorders.Keywords
This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit:
- Voluntary Control Over Pelvic Floor Muscles in Women With and Without Vaginistic ReactionsInternational Urogynecology Journal, 1999
- Does Vaginismus Exist?Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) ,1999
- Normal findings in vulvar examination and vulvoscopyBJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 1997
- Difficulties in the Differential Diagnosis of Vaginismus, Dyspareunia and Mixed Sexual Pain DisorderJournal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 1995
- Painful Coitus: A Review of Female DyspareuniaThe Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 1994
- DYSPAREUNIAObstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America, 1993
- Vulvar vestibulitis: Prevalence and historic features in a general gynecologic practice populationAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1991
- Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic, Clinically Unconfirmed VulvovaginitisObstetrics & Gynecology, 1990
- VulvodyniaArchives of Dermatology, 1989
- Female dyspareuniaAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1980