U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Psychologic vaginismus

MedGen UID:
52970
•Concept ID:
C0042266
•
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Synonyms: functional vaginismus; non-organic vaginismus; Psychogenic Vaginismus; psychogenic vaginismus; psychologic vaginismus
SNOMED CT: Psychologic vaginismus (71787009)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0000946

Definition

Involuntary spasm of the outer muscles of the vagina during penetration that results from a psychological cause. [from NCI]

Professional guidelines

PubMed

The Overactive Pelvic Floor (OPF) and Sexual Dysfunction. Part 2: Evaluation and Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction in OPF Patients.
Padoa A, McLean L, Morin M, Vandyken C
Sex Med Rev 2021 Jan;9(1):76-92. Epub 2020 Jul 4 doi: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2020.04.002. PMID: 32631813
The Neurobiology and Psychiatric Perspective of Vaginismus: Linking the Pharmacological and Psycho-Social Interventions.
Kadir ZS, Sidi H, Kumar J, Das S, Midin M, Baharuddin N
Curr Drug Targets 2018;19(8):916-926. doi: 10.2174/1389450118666170222153908. PMID: 28228081
Evaluation and differential diagnosis of dyspareunia.
Heim LJ
Am Fam Physician 2001 Apr 15;63(8):1535-44. PMID: 11327429

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Dyspareunia in Women.
Hill DA, Taylor CA
Am Fam Physician 2021 May 15;103(10):597-604. PMID: 33983001
Standard operating procedures for female genital sexual pain.
Fugl-Meyer KS, Bohm-Starke N, Damsted Petersen C, Fugl-Meyer A, Parish S, Giraldi A
J Sex Med 2013 Jan;10(1):83-93. Epub 2012 Sep 12 doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02867.x. PMID: 22970822
Interventions for vaginismus.
Melnik T, Hawton K, McGuire H
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012 Dec 12;12(12):CD001760. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001760.pub2. PMID: 23235583Free PMC Article
Management of female sexual pain disorders.
Boyer SC, Goldfinger C, Thibault-Gagnon S, Pukall CF
Adv Psychosom Med 2011;31:83-104. Epub 2011 Oct 10 doi: 10.1159/000328810. PMID: 22005206
Does vaginismus exist? A critical review of the literature.
Reissing ED, Binik YM, Khalifé S
J Nerv Ment Dis 1999 May;187(5):261-74. doi: 10.1097/00005053-199905000-00001. PMID: 10348080

Diagnosis

Dyspareunia in Women.
Hill DA, Taylor CA
Am Fam Physician 2021 May 15;103(10):597-604. PMID: 33983001
The Overactive Pelvic Floor (OPF) and Sexual Dysfunction. Part 2: Evaluation and Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction in OPF Patients.
Padoa A, McLean L, Morin M, Vandyken C
Sex Med Rev 2021 Jan;9(1):76-92. Epub 2020 Jul 4 doi: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2020.04.002. PMID: 32631813
Female Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder: Review of the Related Factors and Overall Approach.
Dias-Amaral A, Marques-Pinto A
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2018 Dec;40(12):787-793. Epub 2018 Nov 14 doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1675805. PMID: 30428492Free PMC Article
Vulvodynia.
Shah M, Hoffstetter S
Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 2014 Sep;41(3):453-64. Epub 2014 Jul 9 doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2014.05.005. PMID: 25155125
Women's sexual pain disorders.
van Lankveld JJ, Granot M, Weijmar Schultz WC, Binik YM, Wesselmann U, Pukall CF, Bohm-Starke N, Achtrari C
J Sex Med 2010 Jan;7(1 Pt 2):615-31. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01631.x. PMID: 20092455

Therapy

Bio-psychosocial factor of vaginismus in Iranian women.
Banaei M, Kariman N, Ozgoli G, Nasiri M
Reprod Health 2021 Oct 18;18(1):210. doi: 10.1186/s12978-021-01260-2. PMID: 34663378Free PMC Article
Vulvodynia.
Shah M, Hoffstetter S
Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 2014 Sep;41(3):453-64. Epub 2014 Jul 9 doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2014.05.005. PMID: 25155125
Interventions for vaginismus.
Melnik T, Hawton K, McGuire H
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012 Dec 12;12(12):CD001760. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001760.pub2. PMID: 23235583Free PMC Article
Interventions for vaginismus.
McGuire H, Hawton K
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2003;(1):CD001760. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001760. PMID: 12535412
Interventions for vaginismus.
McGuire H, Hawton K
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2001;(2):CD001760. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001760. PMID: 11406006

Prognosis

Bio-psychosocial factor of vaginismus in Iranian women.
Banaei M, Kariman N, Ozgoli G, Nasiri M
Reprod Health 2021 Oct 18;18(1):210. doi: 10.1186/s12978-021-01260-2. PMID: 34663378Free PMC Article
The Neurobiology and Psychiatric Perspective of Vaginismus: Linking the Pharmacological and Psycho-Social Interventions.
Kadir ZS, Sidi H, Kumar J, Das S, Midin M, Baharuddin N
Curr Drug Targets 2018;19(8):916-926. doi: 10.2174/1389450118666170222153908. PMID: 28228081
Does vaginismus exist? A critical review of the literature.
Reissing ED, Binik YM, Khalifé S
J Nerv Ment Dis 1999 May;187(5):261-74. doi: 10.1097/00005053-199905000-00001. PMID: 10348080
Sexual dysfunction, Part II: Diagnosis, management, and prognosis.
Halvorsen JG, Metz ME
J Am Board Fam Pract 1992 Mar-Apr;5(2):177-92. PMID: 1575070
Incidence and prevalence of the sexual dysfunctions: a critical review of the empirical literature.
Spector IP, Carey MP
Arch Sex Behav 1990 Aug;19(4):389-408. doi: 10.1007/BF01541933. PMID: 2205172

Clinical prediction guides

Unconsummated marriage: a systematic review of etiological factors and clinical management.
Krishnappa P, Manfredi C, Jayaramaiah S, Ditonno F, Matippa P, Shah R, Moncada I
J Sex Med 2023 Dec 22;21(1):20-28. doi: 10.1093/jsxmed/qdad146. PMID: 37952223
Sexual Inactivity and Dysfunction in Denmark: A Project SEXUS Study.
Andresen JB, Graugaard C, Andersson M, Bahnsen MK, Frisch M
Arch Sex Behav 2022 Nov;51(8):3669-3688. Epub 2022 Sep 20 doi: 10.1007/s10508-022-02348-x. PMID: 36127559
Bio-psychosocial factor of vaginismus in Iranian women.
Banaei M, Kariman N, Ozgoli G, Nasiri M
Reprod Health 2021 Oct 18;18(1):210. doi: 10.1186/s12978-021-01260-2. PMID: 34663378Free PMC Article
Factors influencing sexual functions in Turkish female patients with migraine.
Ertem DH, Ayan Saatçioğlu Ş, Bingol A, Mercan Ö, Erdogan G, Kokar S, Saglam H, Uluduz D
Agri 2020 Nov;32(4):193-201. doi: 10.14744/agri.2020.47640. PMID: 33398864
Vaginismus and its correlates in an Iranian clinical sample.
Farnam F, Janghorbani M, Merghati-Khoei E, Raisi F
Int J Impot Res 2014 Nov-Dec;26(6):230-4. Epub 2014 May 15 doi: 10.1038/ijir.2014.16. PMID: 24830673

Recent systematic reviews

Unconsummated marriage: a systematic review of etiological factors and clinical management.
Krishnappa P, Manfredi C, Jayaramaiah S, Ditonno F, Matippa P, Shah R, Moncada I
J Sex Med 2023 Dec 22;21(1):20-28. doi: 10.1093/jsxmed/qdad146. PMID: 37952223
Outcome of Medical and Psychosexual Interventions for Vaginismus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Maseroli E, Scavello I, Rastrelli G, Limoncin E, Cipriani S, Corona G, Fambrini M, Magini A, Jannini EA, Maggi M, Vignozzi L
J Sex Med 2018 Dec;15(12):1752-1764. Epub 2018 Nov 13 doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2018.10.003. PMID: 30446469
Interventions for vaginismus.
Melnik T, Hawton K, McGuire H
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012 Dec 12;12(12):CD001760. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001760.pub2. PMID: 23235583Free PMC Article
Interventions for vaginismus.
McGuire H, Hawton K
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2003;(1):CD001760. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001760. PMID: 12535412
Interventions for vaginismus.
McGuire H, Hawton K
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2001;(2):CD001760. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001760. PMID: 11406006

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Consumer resources

    Reviews

    Related information

    • PubMed
      Related literature resources in PubMed

    Recent activity

    Clear Turn Off Turn On

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...