Hypno-desensitization therapy of vaginismus: Part I. “in vitro” method. Part II. “in vivo” method

Abstract Vaginismus is probably a result of a faulty psycho-sexual development and can be successfully treated by hypno-desensitization, which is a therapeutic technique utilizing both hypnosis and desensitization. Hypnosis is used to obtain relaxation. Desensitization is a technique whereby anxiety-producing stimuli are presented in an increasing, step-wise manner (i.e., imagery and visualization of suggested material in the “in vitro” technique and the Hegar dilators in the “in vivo” method). Using the hypno-desensitization technique, complete success was obtained in 37 of the 43 patients. Follow-up for a period of 1–5 years on 35 patients showed that these couples were leading a normal sexual life and no symptom substitution appeared.