The effectiveness of functional electrical stimulation - biofeedback with sexual cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of grade 3 and 4 Lamont vaginismus and pregnancy rate of treated individuals.

Abstract

2 Background and Purpose: Vaginismus is an involuntary muscle spasm of the outer third of the vagina that makes it impossible to penetrate the vagina and causes discomfort. Based on the Lamont rating, it has 4 degrees, which are 3 and 4 degrees of severity. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of functional electrical stimulation-biofeedback combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of grade 3 and 4 vaginismus based on the Lamont scale and pregnancy success of treated individuals. Method: 113 women with grade 3 and 4 Lamont vaginismus referred to Nejat Sexual Disorders Clinic and Sarem Hospital participated in this study. The patients enrolled in this study had primary severe vaginismus sexual dysfunction according to diagnostic and statistical criteria and the Lamont questionnaire (Grade 3 and 4). Patients underwent gynecological examinations and clinical interviews related to sexual function before and after treatment. After diagnosis of vaginismus, women underwent biofeedback, neuromuscular inhibitory stimulation, and sexual cognitive-behavioral therapy twice a week for 4 weeks. After treatment, the grade of the disease was calculated based on the Lamont scale and the progress of treatment was considered. Findings: After 8 sessions of treatment, there was a significant difference in the improvement of vaginismus and 77.9% of the subjects were reduced to grade zero and 8% of the subjects were reduced to grade one of Lamont scale. 52.8% of people who planned to become pregnant became success after two months. Conclusion: Biofeedback and muscular inhibitory stimulation along with cognitive-behavioral therapy are effective and short-term therapies for patients with vaginismus.