Behavioral sex therapy and medications associated in the treatment of provoked vulvodynia: efficacy on pain and sexuality in three illustrative cases

Minerva Obstet Gynecol. 2022 Jun;74(3):302-307. doi: 10.23736/S2724-606X.22.04894-1.

Abstract

This paper tests the hypothesis that medications combined with behavioral sex therapy might lessen pain and restore sexuality in women with provoked vulvodynia. Three women affected by vulvodynia, otherwise healthy, in heterosexual relationship were treated at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in a university hospital. In consecutive sessions of behavioral sex therapy, oral tricyclic antidepressants and vulvar applications of estrogen and hydrocortisone creams were prescribed in association with vaginal dilators and sensate focus exercises. The outcome supports the hypothesis that combined medications and sexual behavior interventions may be effective in lessening pain and restoring sexuality in women with provoked vulvodynia. The different dyadic balances observed in this small case series suggest how to best use this protocol. The positive results appear to be mostly due to behavioral sex therapy that was the new element added to the combination of pharmacological agents commonly used to treat provoked vulvodynia.

MeSH terms

  • Behavior Therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pain
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Sexuality
  • Vulvodynia* / drug therapy