Female sexual pain is a common problem affecting women worldwide yet remains a poorly researched area of women’s sexual health. Dyspareunia and vaginismus are two types of sexual pain disorder each having psychological and physical health consequences for women and their partners. Part 1: A literature review of the qualitative research literature exploring women’s experiences of sexual pain disorders and their treatment was conducted adopting a narrative synthesis approach. Searches of psychological and medical electronic databases highlighted the paucity of research exploring women’s experiences of sexual pain disorders. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. The type of qualitative method and quality varied. Findings highlighted the complexity of women’s experiences of sexual pain. Positive experiences of treatment identified alternative benefits of treatment in addition to the traditional outcome of vaginal penetration and penetration without pain. Existing literature has focussed on dyspareunia, and further research is needed on vaginismus. Part 2: The research study used an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of women’s experiences of vaginismus. Three women were interviewed about their experiences of vaginismus and the treatment they received. Interview transcripts were analysed using IPA. The findings identified the complexity of experiencing vaginismus, the struggle the women faced when trying to make sense of their vaginismus and the wider impact of these experiences on their identity. The findings highlight the value of psychological therapy with this client group and of the need to raise awareness amongst primary care professionals whom women with vaginismus are likely to consult in the first instance. Part 3: A critical appraisal of the research process is presented with focus on the experience of conducting qualitative research as a trainee clinical psychologist. A discussion of the findings is presented in the context of critical reflections on both the strengths and limitations of the study.

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Although Provoked Vestibulodynia has a great impact on women’s relationships, including their partners, research has predominantly focused on the women. This thesis aimed to expand the knowledge regarding psychosexual health of the partner. Depressive symptoms, anxiety, sexual distress, and domains of sexual function (erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, overall sexual satisfaction) were investigated through descriptive comparisons, correlations, and regression analyses. The sample consisted of male partners (N=53) of women with PVD, aged 20-50 years. Baseline data from a larger RCT was compared with data from external studies. Results showed that PVD partners reported similar levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety as comparison groups. However, PVD partners expressed higher levels of sexual distress, and lower levels of sexual function than comparison groups. Several domains of sexual function predicted overall sexual satisfaction, whereas depressive symptoms did not explain levels of sexual distress. However, depressive symptoms co-occurring with poorer overall sexual satisfaction and orgasmic function, explained higher sexual distress. We conclude that partners have a perceived impaired sexual health. Their impairment is localised to sexuality and not generalised to the rest of their lives. Partner involvement is integral in the treatment of PVD and should be investigated in future research.

Theoretical part Currently accepted new conceptualization of women's sexual dysfunction is based on the model found in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD). These classifications are extended and combined interpersonal, contextual, personalpsychological and biological factors. Recent DSM- IV definitions have focused on absence of sexual fantasies and sexual desireprior to sexual activity and arousal, even though the frequencyof this type of desire is known to vary greatly among women without sexual complaints. DSM-IV definitions also focus on genital swelling and lubrication, entities known to correlate poorly with subjective sexual arousal and pleasure. The structure of the new classification is based on the four categories of DSM-IV: disorders of desire, arousal, orgasm and pain. However these categories are newly assigned to the subjective dimension of satisfaction, stress and the presence of disorders during other sexual activities besides intercourse. The dimension lifetime vs. acquired, generalized vs. situational were added, as well as the etiology is taking into account. For clinical work it is important that these changes highlight the significance and importance of psychological, situational...

Theoretical part Currently accepted new conceptualization of women's sexual dysfunction is based on the model found in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD). These classifications are extended and combined interpersonal, contextual, personalpsychological and biological factors. Recent DSM- IV definitions have focused on absence of sexual fantasies and sexual desireprior to sexual activity and arousal, even though the frequencyof this type of desire is known to vary greatly among women without sexual complaints. DSM-IV definitions also focus on genital swelling and lubrication, entities known to correlate poorly with subjective sexual arousal and pleasure. The structure of the new classification is based on the four categories of DSM-IV: disorders of desire, arousal, orgasm and pain. However these categories are newly assigned to the subjective dimension of satisfaction, stress and the presence of disorders during other sexual activities besides intercourse. The dimension lifetime vs. acquired, generalized vs. situational were added, as well as the etiology is taking into account. For clinical work it is important that these changes highlight the significance and importance of psychological, situational...

No description available.