title: [Treating vaginismus in Turkish women].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vaginismus is a sexual dysfunction involving various branches of medicine, including psychiatry and gynaecology. Psychiatric help is sought in only a small proportion of cases, although it is probable that the psychopathological aetiology is more frequent than generally recognized. This article deals with the causes and psychological circumstances in four Turkish couples who presented with unconsummated marriage for 3 to 7 years. Vaginismus F52.5 to the ICD-10 is a sexual dysfunction characterised as: deep anxiety about coitus leading to extreme spasm of musculature making coitus impossible or extremely unpleasant and painful.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four Turkish couples with unconsummated marriage due to the female partners' penetration phobia were included to this study. A patient-oriented multidimensional individual treatment (combination therapy) is a cost effective, short-term (typically 10- to 12-week) treatment model for both partners. It includes some elements of cognitive behavioural therapy and systemic partner therapy which were considered not radically different from previous therapeutic strategies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results were successful in all cases; the couples were extremely satisfied with having a normal sex life for the first time. This led to desired pregnancies and avoiding of possible breakdown of their families.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The couples did well with combination behavioural therapy. This methodology is discussed in its various aspects and with a cultural background. We also emphasise the need for physicians to be mindful of cases of vaginismus requiring psychiatric intervention rather than gynaecological treatment.
authors.affiliation: Praxis für Psychiatrie, Königsberger Strasse 3, 75417, Mühlacker, Deutschland. praxisdrgul@aol.com
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gül
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Ruf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D052065:Vaginismus / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult
references.citation: Arch Sex Behav. 2004 Feb;33(1):5-17
references.pmid: 14739686
references.citation: J Obstet Gynaecol. 2000 May;20(3):303-5
references.pmid: 15512559
references.citation: Harefuah. 2001 Sep;140(9):831-4, 894
references.pmid: 11579733
references.citation: J Sex Marital Ther. 2003 Jul-Aug;29(4):277-88
references.pmid: 14504016
references.citation: J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 1995 Dec;16(4):201-9
references.pmid: 8748995
references.citation: J Urol. 2006 Feb;175(2):654-8; discussion 658
references.pmid: 16407018
references.citation: J Sex Med. 2005 May;2(3):301-16
references.pmid: 16422861
references.citation: Behav Res Ther. 2007 Feb;45(2):359-73
references.pmid: 16701078
references.citation: J Sex Marital Ther. 2002 Jul-Sep;28(4):301-4
references.pmid: 12082668
references.citation: J Sex Med. 2007 Nov;4(6):1575-81
references.pmid: 17908232
references.citation: Urology. 2005 Jul;66(1):77-81
references.pmid: 15992873
references.citation: Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2006 May;52(3):214-20
references.pmid: 16875193
references.citation: Int J Impot Res. 2008 Mar-Apr;20(2):218-21
references.pmid: 17882229
references.citation: J Sex Med. 2004 Jul;1(1):40-8
references.pmid: 16422982
references.citation: J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2000 Sep;21(3):149-55
references.pmid: 11076336
references.citation: Urol Int. 2004;72(1):52-7
references.pmid: 14730166
references.citation: J Sex Marital Ther. 2008;34(3):268-79
references.pmid: 18398764