Body image in women with primary and secondary provoked vestibulodynia: a controlled study.
BACKGROUND
Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a women's genito-pelvic pain condition associated with psychosexual impairments, including depression. Body image (BI) has been found to be different in women with primary (PVD1) and secondary (PVD2) PVD. No controlled study has compared BI in women with PVD1 and PVD2 and investigated its associations with sexual satisfaction, sexual function, and pain.


OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to (i) compare BI in women with PVD1, PVD2, and asymptomatic controls and (ii) to examine associations between BI and sexual satisfaction, sexual function, and pain during intercourse in women with PVD.


METHODS
Fifty-seven women (20 with PVD1, 19 with PVD2, and 18 controls) completed measures of BI, sexual satisfaction, sexual function, pain during intercourse, and depression.


METHODS
The main outcome measures were (i) Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction Scale, (ii) Female Sexual Function Index, and (iii) pain numerical rating scale.


RESULTS
Controlling for depression, women with PVD1 reported more body exposure anxiety during sexual activities than women with PVD2 and controls F(2,51)=4.23, P=0.02. For women with PVD, more negative BI during sexual activities was associated with lower sexual satisfaction (β=-0.45, P=0.02) and function (β=-0.39, P=0.04) and higher pain during intercourse (β=0.59, P=0.004). More positive body esteem was associated with higher sexual function (β=0.34, P=0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that women with PVD1 present more body exposure anxiety during sexual activities than women with PVD2 and asymptomatic women. Body esteem and general attitudes toward women's genitalia were not significantly different between groups. Higher body exposure anxiety during sexual activities was associated with poorer sexual outcomes in women with PVD. Further studies assessing interventions targeting BI during sexual activities in this population are needed, as improving BI during sexual interactions may enhance sexual outcomes in women with PVD.
Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Delphine L
DL
Maillé
Sophie
S
Bergeron
Bernard
B
Lambert
D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017288:Pain Threshold; D017699:Pelvic Pain; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D056650:Vulvodynia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*
Body Image; Dyspareunia; Provoked Vestibulodynia; Sexual Function; Sexual Satisfaction; Vulvodynia