The interrelationship between women's help-seeking experiences for vaginismus and their sense of self: a qualitative study and abductive analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

There is a lack of research on women's holistic experiences of vaginismus, also called sexual pain-penetration disorder, from their perspective. To address this gap, an abductive qualitative study aimed to examine women's help-seeking experiences for vaginismus, and its impact on their sense of self.

Methods

This study was informed by a feminist approach to the theory of self focused on participants' negotiation of dis/empowerment when help-seeking for vaginismus. Twenty-one participants aged 19-37 years (mean 27.6 years) and diagnosed with vaginismus in Australia participated in semi-structured interviews, which were thematically analysed.

Results

Three themes were developed: Interconnected constructions of womanhood and help-seeking, Elicit agenc

SUBMITTER: Pithavadian R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11370689 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature