Shedding Light on the Partner:The Psychosexual Health of Male Partners of Women with Provoked Vestibulodynia

Although Provoked Vestibulodynia has a great impact on women’s relationships, including their partners, research has predominantly focused on the women. This thesis aimed to expand the knowledge regarding psychosexual health of the partner. Depressive symptoms, anxiety, sexual distress, and domains of sexual function (erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, overall sexual satisfaction) were investigated through descriptive comparisons, correlations, and regression analyses. The sample consisted of male partners (N=53) of women with PVD, aged 20-50 years. Baseline data from a larger RCT was compared with data from external studies. Results showed that PVD partners reported similar levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety as comparison groups. However, PVD partners expressed higher levels of sexual distress, and lower levels of sexual function than comparison groups. Several domains of sexual function predicted overall sexual satisfaction, whereas depressive symptoms did not explain levels of sexual distress. However, depressive symptoms co-occurring with poorer overall sexual satisfaction and orgasmic function, explained higher sexual distress. We conclude that partners have a perceived impaired sexual health. Their impairment is localised to sexuality and not generalised to the rest of their lives. Partner involvement is integral in the treatment of PVD and should be investigated in future research