Long-Term Coital Behaviour in Women Treated with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Superficial Coital Pain and Vaginismus

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate long-term coital behaviour in women treated with cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for superficial coital pain and vaginismus. Data were taken from a questionnaire concerning long-term coital behaviour sent to 59 women who presented to Linköping University Hospital because of superficial coital pain, had been diagnosed with vaginismus, and had been treated with CBT. Data were also traced from therapy records: mean follow-up time was 39 months, the women had suffered for an average of almost 4 years, and required a mean of 14 treatment sessions. Forty-four of the 59 women returned the questionnaire, for a response rate of 74.6%. At follow-up, 81% of the treated women had had intercourse. A majority (61%) rated their ability to have intercourse without pain as 6 or higher (on a scale from 0–10), and 61% rated their ability to enjoy intercourse as 6 or higher (on a scale from 0–10). The proportion of women with positive treatment outcome at follow-up ranged from 81% (able to have intercourse) to 6% (able to have pain-free intercourse). An ability to have intercourse at end of therapy was maintained at follow-up. Two-thirds of the women reported high fulfilment of individual treatment goals. At follow-up, the women estimated a significantly higher self-worth as sex partners, and as women and human beings, than before treatment. Twelve per cent of the original sample had healed after a few assessment sessions and without treatment.

Keywords:

• vaginismus
• cognitive behaviour therapy
• long-term follow-up
• treatment goal
• self-worth.

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by research grants from The Swedish Foundation for Health Care Sciences and Allergy Research (Vårdalstiftelsen) and The Health Research Council in Southeast Sweden. We would like to thank medical students Elisabeth Forsberg and Liselotte Ydrenius for their valuable help with the study.