Benefícios da fisioterapia pélvica na melhora da dispareunia em mulheres com diagnóstico de vaginismo

Abstract

Female sexual pain disorders, particularly vaginismus and dyspareunia, have significant repercussions on sexual function, quality of life, and women’s emotional health, frequently being associated with persistent pain, fear of penetration, sexual anxiety, and psychosocial distress. In this context, pelvic floor physical therapy has been incorporated as a therapeutic strategy in the management of these conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between sexual function, quality of life, and duration of pelvic physiotherapy follow-up in women with vaginismus and dyspareunia. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, quantitative field study conducted in a specialized female pelvic health clinic, with a sample composed of 15 young adult women aged between 23 and 32 years undergoing regular pelvic physiotherapy treatment. A sociodemographic questionnaire, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were applied. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The findings demonstrated substantial impairment in female sexual function, with lower scores observed in the pain (2.72 ± 1.76), desire (3.00 ± 1.16), and orgasm (3.07 ± 0.65) domains. A positive correlation was identified between total FSFI and total SF-36 scores (rho=0.386), in addition to a trend toward association between longer physiotherapy follow-up and better sexual function and quality of life outcomes. Furthermore, a negative correlation was observed between pain and mental health (rho=-0.543), suggesting emotional repercussions associated with painful sexual experiences. The findings reinforce the multidimensional nature of these disorders and the need for integrated and individualized therapeutic approaches.