Help Seeking and Vaginismus Help-seeking Behaviour in Sufferers of Vaginismus

Help seeking and vaginismus 2 Summary The aim of the study was to examine the help-seeking behaviour of sufferers of vaginismus and to explore their experiences of professional intervention. A postal questionnaire was completed by sufferers (n=67) and ex-sufferers (n=22) of vaginismus through a newspaper advert, self help groups, psychotherapists and professional organisations asking them about their help seeking behaviour. The results indicate that finding help can be difficult. Although most sufferers contacted their G.P. (69.7%) the G.P. was regarded as least helpful. Subjects show a wide variability in their experiences of professional help, with both satisfaction and dissatisfaction being expressed with both doctor centred and patient centred approaches. In addition, the experience and expectations of professional intervention may deter further help seeking behaviour. The results suggest that there is widespread dissatisfaction with professional interventions for vaginismus which may reflect an incongruence between the beliefs of the sufferers and those of the professionals.