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Treatment of vaginismus by hypnotic psychotherapy. Review
ANDREA AMBROSETTI11Italian Center for Short-Term Psychotherapy Study and Development (CISSPAT)
Aim: :To evaluate the level of knowledge of vaginismus in its psychological and sexual causes, the use of medical hypnosis as a therapeutic support, and to create an ad hoc hypnotic model for its treatment trough a grid comprising all dimensions used in the various researches considered in the literature.
Methods: :The review was performed by consulting the electronic Medline database (PubMed), DSM IV-TR and 5, Benini’s biopsychosocial relational theories, and extracts abstracts data from various medical and sexology publications.
Results: :The vaginismic woman seems to present a psychobiological vulnerability, mainly triggered by hyperactivity of the emotional sphere and by a muscular hypertonus of the pelvic floor that influences the sexual sphere. The data support the idea of a general defensive reaction as a mechanism of involuntary muscular activity of the pelvic floor and a close connection between vaginismus, pelvic contraction, emotional motor system and biological anguishes of the reptilian mind.
Conclusions: :Further to the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary-approach in the treatment of vaginismus, hypnosis seems to have an impact in shortening therapy time, in pain management and anxiety reduction. According to Benini’s approach, the cause of vaginismus is not identified in the fear of penetration but rather in the anguish of the reptilian mind.
Cite This Article
AMBROSETTI A. Treatment of vaginismus by hypnotic psychotherapy. Review. 2019; 38(3): 96-102
Corresponding Author: AMBROSETTI A.