Examination of sexual health literacy and cyberchondria levels in women with vaginismus

TL;DR

This study compares sexual health knowledge and online health anxiety in women with and without vaginismus.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into sexual health literacy and cyberchondria in women with vaginismus.

Findings

No significant difference in sexual health literacy between women with and without vaginismus.

Women with vaginismus showed lower levels of cyberchondria.

Most participants had high sexual health literacy despite their condition.

Abstract

This study aimed to compare sexual health literacy and cyberchondria levels between women who had been diagnosed with vaginismus and those who had not.

The research was conducted as a prospective cohort study including 60 women over the age of 18 who were married and unable to engage in sexual intercourse due to primary vaginismus and 60 sexually active married women without vaginismus. Data collection tools included a patient information form, the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-12-TR), and the Sexual Health Literacy Scale (SHLS).

The median age of the women diagnosed with vaginismus was 27 (21–54) years, while the median age of the women without a vaginismus diagnosis was 30 (20–57) years. The majority of women diagnosed with vaginismus were not employed and had married for love. No significant difference was found between the groups in terms of the total SHLS score. Women with vaginismus showed lower levels of cyberchondria. Most participants were university graduates and sexual health literacy levels were found to be high.

Cyberchondria levels in women diagnosed with vaginismus may be low because confronting their condition is challenging. However, it can be inferred that women with vaginismus who seek help from healthcare institutions have high levels of problem-solving skills.