People discuss the men who can't get it up, but what about the women who can't get it in? Women's help-seeking experiences for sexual pain-penetration disorder

Rashmi Pithavadian, Jane Chalmers, Vijayasarathi Ramanathan, Tinashe Dune

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Purpose: While it is common to hear of men who ‘can't get it up’ due to erectile dysfunction, people rarely discuss the women who ‘can't get it in’. These women often meet the criteria for sexual pain-penetration disorder (SPPD), which makes vaginal penetration painful or difficult. Lacking awareness of SPPD and the changing terminology from vaginismus to SPPD complicates help-seeking. Yet, there is lacking research on women's help-seeking experiences for SPPD. Therefore, this study aimed to examine Australian women's subjective experiences of formal and informal help-seeking for their SPPD to gain information, diagnosis, treatment, and support. 

Methods: Help-seeking theory informed the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 participants who sought help for their SPPD, which were inductively thematically analysed. 

Results: Five major themes were developed. (1) Recognition that help-seeking is necessary varied depending on participants' presentation of SPPD. (2) Initiating help-seeking included accessing first points of contact and gaining diagnosis. (3) Management of symptoms with treatment involved conventional, complementary, and alternative treatments. Women discussed using sex toys as alternatives to vaginal trainers, the correlation between negotiating pain thresholds and treatment progress, and their perceptions towards Botox and nerve blocks. (4) Traverse formal healthcare networks facilitated or hindered help-seeking. (5) Navigation of un/supportive informal networks included women's partners, family, friends, and online communities. 

Conclusions: The benefit of self-help kits, and complementary and alternative treatments for SPPD should be evaluated. Recommendations involve improving health professionals' approaches, including in online spaces. Women's immediate informal support networks should be engaged in healthcare management.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100480
Number of pages10
JournalSSM - Qualitative Research in Health
Volume6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors

Keywords

  • Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder
  • Help-seeking
  • Painful sex
  • Qualitative
  • Sexual health
  • Sexual pain-penetration disorder
  • Vaginismus
  • Women's health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'People discuss the men who can't get it up, but what about the women who can't get it in? Women's help-seeking experiences for sexual pain-penetration disorder'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this