Primary vaginismus: A psychometric study of both partners

This study sought to explore the personality profiles of a cohort of vaginismic women and their partners who entered a sex-therapy programme with a problem of primary vaginismus. The psychometric instruments used were the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), Cattett's 16PF (16PF), the Crown-Crisp Experiential Index (CCEI) and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI). Of the 18 couples who entered the programme, 14 also completed the post-therapy assessment protocol. Results challenge assumptions that vaginismus is symptomatic of disproportionate levels of psychological distress. The females were found to have lower levels of self-esteem than their partners. A reduction was found in the total psychoneurotic score of both females and males in the post-therapy situation, as measured by the CCEI, although not at a statistically significant level for the females and significant only at p = 0.20 for the males. Treatment consisted of individual psychotherapy of both partners combined with in vivo desensitization and a retraining of sexual behaviour. The conclusion reached was that there may be a much more subtle psychodynamic in operation than earlier studies have taken account of, even in cases of technical ‘success’. The CCEI and the SEI are recommended for clinical use.