Do Psychosexual Factors Play a Role in the Etiology of Provoked Vestibulodynia? A Critical Review

The aim of this review was to critically examine published studies concerning the psychosexual aspects of provoked vestibulodynia. Despite the presence of several methodological limitations, some findings were consistently replicated. Overall, women with vestibulodynia demonstrate impaired sexual fu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of sex & marital therapy Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 198 - 226
Main Authors Desrochers, Geneviève, Bergeron, Sophie, Landry, Tina, Jodoin, Mélanie
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York, NY Taylor & Francis Group 01.05.2008
Human Sciences Press
Subjects
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Anxiety - complications
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child Abuse, Sexual - psychology
Depression - complications
Dyspareunia - complications
Female
Humans
Libido
Medical sciences
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Risk Factors
Self Concept
Sexual behavior disorders. Psychogenic sexual dysfunctions
Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - etiology
Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - psychology
Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological - etiology
Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological - psychology
Stress, Psychological - complications
Women's Health
Human
Psychological distress
Etiology
Sexual dysfunction
Vulvar vestibulitis
Critical study
Female
Personality
Review
Woman
Female genital diseases
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Summary:The aim of this review was to critically examine published studies concerning the psychosexual aspects of provoked vestibulodynia. Despite the presence of several methodological limitations, some findings were consistently replicated. Overall, women with vestibulodynia demonstrate impaired sexual functioning, namely, lower levels of sexual desire, arousal, and frequency of intercourse. Childhood physical and sexual abuse represent potential risk factors for the development of this condition. Additionally, specific psychological states such as anxiety, fear of pain, hypervigilance, catastrophizing, and depression, are more frequently reported by these women. More rigorous studies are needed to establish which psychosexual variables may exacerbate and/or maintain vestibulodynia.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-3
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ObjectType-Review-1
ISSN:0092-623X
1521-0715
DOI:10.1080/00926230701866083