Tactile Stimulus Fading in Treating Vaginismus

Abstract

Severe vaginismus in a 22-year-old married female was successfully treated by systematically fading in tactile stimuli which successively approximated intra-vaginal penile stimulation. Prior trials with a gynecological dilator and a course of standard imaginal and in vivo desensitization had been unsuccessful. In the present treatment, new stimulus steps were interspersed with previously conditional stimulus steps and were introduced during performance of the desired terminal behavior (i.e., during sexual intercourse-like sensory-motor behavior of the patient). Fading is briefly compared to standard methods of introducing hierarchy items.