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Sexual Self-Concept and Intimacy in Context of Vaginismus: A Case–Control Study; [Autoconcepto Sexual E Intimidad En El Contexto Del Vaginismo: Un Estudio De Casos Y Controles] Publisher



Banaei M1 ; Alidost F2 ; Shahrahmani H3 ; Yazdani F3 ; Sepehri Z1 ; Kariman N4
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Mother and Child Welfare Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
  2. 2. Midwifery and Reproductive Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Student Research Committee, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Clinica e Investigacion en Ginecologia y Obstetricia Published:2024


Abstract

Background: As sexuality and its related issues are significantly associated with sociocultural settings, addressing the sexual health status of individuals in different societies is of the utmost importance. Women with vaginismus have more stress, anxiety, depression, and they also feel hopeless and have low self-esteem. And this problem can disturb intimacy between couples and women's sexual self-concept. Therefore, the present study was to determine and compare sexual self-concept and intimacy in women presenting with and without vaginismus. Methods: This case–control study was conducted in 2021–2022 on 240 women with and without vaginismus, referring to selected sexual health clinics based in Iran. The data collection tools recruited were the demographic characteristics’ information, the Multidimensional Sexual Self-Concept Questionnaire, and the Sexual Intimacy Scale. To calculate the odds ratio of the studied variables, the logistic regression analysis using the SPSS Statistics software (ver. 25) was also employed. Results: The mean age of women with and without vaginismus was 27.85 ± 4.62 and 28.51 ± 4.34, respectively. According to the regression results, the variables of sexual intimacy (odds ratio (OR) = 0.864, P < 0.001), sexual awareness (OR = 6.090, P = 0.003), sexual-anxiety (OR = 1.613, P < 0.001), fear of sex (OR = 1.338, P = 0.021) and sexual problem prevention (OR = 0.765, P = 0.016) were significantly associated with vaginismus. Conclusions: According to these results, sexual intimacy, sexual awareness, sexual-anxiety, fear of sex and sexual problem prevention were significantly associated with vaginismus. Therefore, it is suggested that for the treatment of women with vaginismus, interventions can be designed to improve sexual intimacy, sexual knowledge and positive sexual self-concept and reduce sexual anxiety. © 2024 Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.
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