1. ¹Central Institute of Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
2. ²Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India

Correspondence: Dr SK Praharaj, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand 834 006, India. E-mail: samirpsyche@yahoo.co.in

³Current address: B-454, Meera Bagh, Paschim Vihar, New Delhi, India

Received 23 December 2005; Revised 9 February 2006; Accepted 13 February 2006; Published online 30 March 2006.

Abstract

Vaginismus is a sexual dysfunction in which spasm of vaginal musculature precludes penetrative intercourse. In many cases associated pain or fear of pain may contribute to the maintenance of vaginismus. We report a case of primary vaginismus with associated pain that benefited from topical application of lignocaine gel along with systematic desensitization resulting in successful consummation, and suggest that it may be a useful adjunct during finger dilatation in the treatment of vaginismus, specifically in patients who have associated pain or areas of hyperesthesia in the introitus.