Jundishapur Journal of Health Sciences

Jundishapur Journal of Health Sciences

The Effect of Systemic Sex Therapy on Patient Attitudes toward Vaginal Penetration Disorder in Patients with Vaginismus

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Fatemeh Tehranchi 1
Effat Merghati Khoei* 2
Malek Mirhashemi 1
Khadijeh Abolmaali Alhosseini 3
1 Department of Psychology, Ro.C., Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran
2 Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Psychology, NT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
10.22118/jjhs.2025.538897.1015
Abstract
Background: Vaginismus is a prevalent sexual dysfunction significantly impacting mental health and marital quality. The present study aimed to determine the effect of systemic therapy on the attitudes of patients with vaginismus toward vaginal penetration disorder.
Methods: This single-group clinical trial employed a repeated measures design, including pre-test, post-test, and two follow-up phases at one- and three-month intervals. A convenience sample of 15 married women, referred to psychology and sexual health centers in Tehran during 2023-2024, participated in this study. Participants received 12 weekly 60-minute sessions of systemic sexual therapy. Data were collected using the Multidimensional Vaginal Penetration Disorder Questionnaire (MVPDQ), assessing catastrophic cognitions, genital incompatibility, hypervigilance, avoidance, optimism, sexual information, penetration motivation, and marital adjustment, administered at four time points. Data were analyzed using mixed analysis of variance with repeated measures and Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS-27.
Results: Systemic therapy significantly reduced catastrophic cognitions, genital incompatibility, hypervigilance, and avoidance (P<0.001) and improved optimism and sexual information (P<0.01). While vaginal penetration disorder scores significantly decreased from pre-test to post-test (P<0.01), these improvements were not sustained at follow-up phases. Penetration motivation (P=0.069) and marital adjustment (P=0.010) showed no significant changes.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that systemic therapy effectively improves cognitive-emotional aspects of vaginal penetration disorder. However, the lack of sustained effects on overall vaginal penetration disorder indicates a need for extended interventions. Systemic therapy is recommended as an adjunctive approach to address the multifaceted nature of vaginismus, enhancing cognitive and relational outcomes.
Keywords
Vaginismus
Sexual dysfunctions
Systemic therapy
Attitude
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Jundishapur Journal of Health Sciences
Volume 17, Issue 4
Autumn 2025
Pages 27-37