Reconnecting through Intimacy
Presenting a Biopsychosocial Intervention for Women with Sexual Dysfunctions and their Partners
Presenting a Biopsychosocial Intervention for Women with Sexual Dysfunctions and their Partners
Paris, 2009
These are Amy and James on their first vacation together in 2009. They had a very happy relationship, however Amy had experienced traumatic sexual experiences with her first boyfriend, which lead her to experience chronic pain during sexual activity.
"I miss feeling connected to my partner, and am afraid he will leave me so I try to engage in sexual activity despite the pain"
In order to be able to be intimate with her partner, Amy tried to disregard her pain and engage in sexual activity with him. To not hurt James, Amy avoided telling him about her painful experiences. Amy grew up in a conservative household and was ashamed to talk about her pain with her family or friends.
And women frequently report to want to engage in sexual activity despite pain
Amy experienced decreased self-esteem and confidence and started to avoid intimacy with her partner, which put a strain on their relationship
But as GPs and Gynecologists are frequently not trained in diagnosing sexual dysfunction and still experience shame around the topic, Amy was frequently dismissed, not taken seriously, and not diagnosed.
Amy is afraid to loose James if she will not be able to engage in sexual activity with him
About 10 - 28 % of Women in the general population experience pain during sexual activity
Sexual pain is prevalent all over the world, with prevalence rates between 10 and 60 %
Factors associated with the development and maintenance of vulvar pain
Overlapping chronic pain conditions
For an appointment at the Mayo Clinic Women's Health Clinic, please call 1-507-538-3270 or visit www.mayoclinic.org, and specify the Women's Health Clinic. Vulvodynia is a term that simply means pain of the vulva. Vulvodynia is a silent epidemic affecting 1 in 4 adolescent girls and women. While no one treatment for vulvar pain or genital pain is right for every woman with vulvodynia, several treatment options are available.
Amy looking for help after being dismissed by her doctor
Intervention for women affected by vulvar pain and their partners according to the biopsychosocial model
The Biopsychosocial Model
Medication, vaginal dilators, food intake, hygiene, clothing
Communication in couple, re-writing sexual script (away from pressure on penetrative intercourse), learning what is desired and how to communicate it, partner-responsiveness to pain
Psychoeducation on condition, work on own attachment style, address trauma, own communication skills
Develop ways to communicate with each other and find ways to rebuild intimacy and connection
Amy and James enjoying different kinds of intimacy and feeling connected after completing the intervention