Anderson Alexandra B, Rosen Natalie O, Price Lisa, Bergeron Sophie
Department of Psychology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
J Sex Med. 2016 Mar;13(3):444-52. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2015.12.024. Epub 2016 Feb 4.
Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a common vulvovaginal pain condition that negatively impacts women's psychological and sexual well-being. Controlled studies have found that women with PVD report greater negative and less positive cognitions about penetration; however, associations between these types of cognitions and women's pain and sexual well-being remain unknown. Further, researchers have yet to examine how interpersonal variables such as sexual communication may impact the association between women's penetration cognitions and PVD outcomes.
We examined associations between vaginal penetration cognitions and sexual satisfaction, sexual function, and pain in women with PVD, as well as the moderating role of sexual communication.
Seventy-seven women (M age = 28.32, SD = 6.19) diagnosed with PVD completed the catastrophic and pain cognitions and positive cognitions subscales of the Vaginal Penetration Cognition Questionnaire, as well as the Dyadic Sexual Communication Scale. Participants also completed measures of sexual satisfaction, sexual function, and pain.
Dependent measures were the (i) Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction Scale; (ii) Female Sexual Function Index; and (iii) Present Pain Intensity scale of the McGill Pain Questionnaire, with reference to pain during vaginal intercourse.
Women's lower catastrophic and pain cognitions, higher positive cognitions, and higher sexual communication were each uniquely associated with higher sexual satisfaction and sexual function. Lower catastrophic and pain cognitions also were associated with women's lower pain. For women who reported higher sexual communication, as positive cognitions increased, there was a significantly greater decrease in pain intensity during intercourse compared to women who reported lower levels of sexual communication.
Findings may inform cognitive-behavioral interventions aimed at improving the pain and sexual well-being of women with PVD. Targeting the couple's sexual communication and women's penetration cognitions may improve women's sexual adjustment and reduce pain.
诱发性前庭痛（PVD）是一种常见的外阴阴道疼痛病症，会对女性的心理和性健康产生负面影响。对照研究发现，患有PVD的女性对性交的负面认知更多，正面认知更少；然而，这些认知类型与女性疼痛和性健康之间的关联尚不清楚。此外，研究人员尚未研究诸如性沟通等人际变量如何影响女性性交认知与PVD结果之间的关联。
我们研究了患有PVD的女性的阴道性交认知与性满意度、性功能和疼痛之间的关联，以及性沟通的调节作用。
77名被诊断为PVD的女性（年龄M = 28.32，标准差SD = 6.19）完成了阴道性交认知问卷的灾难性和疼痛认知以及正面认知子量表，以及二元性沟通量表。参与者还完成了性满意度、性功能和疼痛的测量。
因变量为：（i）性满意度总体测量量表；（ii）女性性功能指数；（iii）麦吉尔疼痛问卷的当前疼痛强度量表，参考阴道性交时的疼痛。
女性较低的灾难性和疼痛认知、较高的正面认知以及较高的性沟通分别与较高的性满意度和性功能独特相关。较低的灾难性和疼痛认知也与女性较低的疼痛相关。对于报告性沟通较高的女性，随着正面认知的增加，与报告性沟通水平较低的女性相比，性交时的疼痛强度显著降低。
研究结果可能为旨在改善患有PVD的女性的疼痛和性健康的认知行为干预提供信息。针对夫妻的性沟通和女性的性交认知可能会改善女性的性适应并减轻疼痛。
