open access
Sexual functioning and psychological situation of women suffering from vulvodynia
open access
Abstract
Materials and methods. The research was conducted using a proprietary tool for assessing the psychological situation of women and the quality of physician-patient contacts, the Sex Role Inventory (IPP) developed by Kuczyńska and Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire (MSQ) by Snell. The study covered 30 women suffering from vulvodynia (study group) and 30 healthy women (control group).
Results. In the group of women suffering from vulvodynia prevailed women with the feminine psychological gender. The study group was generally in worse psychological situation and featured worse contacts with physicians as compared with the control group. The women suffering from vulvodynia featured lower sexuality self-control, higher level of sexual anxiety before sexual intercourses and the fear of sexual relationships.
Conclusions. The problems of vulvodynia require further research as the disease changes women’s lives significantly. It has a fundamental impact on sexuality, physical and mental state and self-esteem of the suffering women. Unfortunately, the patients very rarely receive adequate treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to educate medical professionals on the problem of vulvodynia.
Abstract
Materials and methods. The research was conducted using a proprietary tool for assessing the psychological situation of women and the quality of physician-patient contacts, the Sex Role Inventory (IPP) developed by Kuczyńska and Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire (MSQ) by Snell. The study covered 30 women suffering from vulvodynia (study group) and 30 healthy women (control group).
Results. In the group of women suffering from vulvodynia prevailed women with the feminine psychological gender. The study group was generally in worse psychological situation and featured worse contacts with physicians as compared with the control group. The women suffering from vulvodynia featured lower sexuality self-control, higher level of sexual anxiety before sexual intercourses and the fear of sexual relationships.
Conclusions. The problems of vulvodynia require further research as the disease changes women’s lives significantly. It has a fundamental impact on sexuality, physical and mental state and self-esteem of the suffering women. Unfortunately, the patients very rarely receive adequate treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to educate medical professionals on the problem of vulvodynia.
Keywords
vulvodynia; vestibulodynia; psychological gender; sexuality


Title
Sexual functioning and psychological situation of women suffering from vulvodynia
Journal
Seksuologia Polska (Polish Sexology)
Issue
Article type
Research paper
Pages
15-20
Published online
2012-09-07
Page views
785
Article views/downloads
3268
Bibliographic record
Seksuologia Polska 2012;10(1):15-20.
Keywords
vulvodynia
vestibulodynia
psychological gender
sexuality
Authors
Dagna Kocur