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2000
Volume 22, Issue 3
  • ISSN: 1573-4048
  • E-ISSN: 1875-6581
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Abstract

Introduction

Vaginismus is characterized by involuntary tightening of the pelvic floor muscles around the vagina and requires appropriate management. This review systematically evaluates the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in treating sexual dysfunction in patients with vaginismus.

Methods

PRISMA guidelines were used to compile a systematic review. A search of the ScienceDirect, PubMed, ProQuest, and Google Scholar databases was conducted to find English-language studies published between 2002-2023 that examined the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy and its effects on the sexual function of women with vaginismus. The included studies were assessed for quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tools (MMAT), and data were analyzed narratively.

Results

A total of 5 studies, including a total of 288 women with vaginismus, were included in the review. The majority of studies included women with vaginismus according to DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria. The duration of the treatment and outcome measurements varied.

Discussion

Cognitive-behavioral therapy has an effect on sexual satisfaction, sexual functions, and marital adjustment, as well as reducing levels of depression and anxiety symptoms in women with vaginismus. CBT is a helpful, cost-effective, and non-invasive interventional therapy.

Conclusion

The duration of therapy required for improvement, as well as its possible association with the severity of vaginismus, remains unclear.

© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Bentham Science Publishers.
This is an open access article published under CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Sexual Function in Women with Vaginismus Disorders: A Systematic Review
Curr Womens Health Rev. 22, E15734048336842 (2026); https://doi.org/10.2174/0115734048336842250625062857
/content/journals/cwhr/10.2174/0115734048336842250625062857
/content/journals/cwhr/10.2174/0115734048336842250625062857
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PRISMA checklist is available as supplementary material on the publisher’s website along with the published article.

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  • Article Type:     Review Article
Keyword(s): cognitive-behavioral therapy; depression levels; DSM-IV-TR; marital adjustment; sexual function; Vaginismus

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