VAGINISMUS AND SUBFERTILITY: CASE REPORTS ON THE ASSOCIATION OBSERVED IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

Objective: To analyse the features of patients with vaginismus first presented to a gynaecologist for infertility before beingreferred for psychiatric evaluation and management. The case series aim to provide some insight on features and presentationsof Asian women with vaginismus. Vaginismus is characterised by persistent or recurrent difficulties in vaginal penetration despitethe woman’s wish for coitus. Avoidance, phobia, anticipatory fear of pain and involuntary pelvic muscle contraction are the mostcommon symptoms.Method: We report a series of cases of Malaysian women who had been suffering from vaginismus and ‘infertility’. All the caseshad never been attended to medically and there were long delays in seeking intervention. There was no history of traumaticsexual experience or any major psychiatric illness in these patients. Majority of the patients had prominent symptoms of anxiety.Conclusion: The cases illustrate that it is important to rule out the possibility of vaginismus among patients with infertility. Theformer have unique psychological features which require psychological interventions.