The vaginal pressure inducer: a new device to test the (un)pleasurableness and tolerance of vaginal pressure and the influence of sexual stimuli

Reinhilde J Melles*, Marieke D Dewitte, Moniek M Ter Kuile, Charlie Bonnemayer, Madelon M L Peters

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

To better understand the impact of sexual stimuli on genital pain, a new instrument was developed: the Vaginal Pressure Inducer (VPI). We administered gradually increasing vaginal pressure with the VPI to sexually functional women while watching a neutral, erotic or explicit sex film. Women had higher unpleasantness thresholds in a sexual context compared to a non-sexual context. Moreover, ratings of pleasurableness were higher in the sexual compared to neutral context and most so during the explicit sexual film. These results provide initial support for the suitability of the VPI to study determinants of pleasant and unpleasant appraisal of vaginal pressure.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)189-200
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Sex & Marital Therapy
Volume44
Issue number2
Early online date7 Jul 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Feb 2018

Keywords

  • Journal Article
  • WOMEN
  • PAIN
  • AROUSAL
  • ORGASM
  • FLOOR MUSCLE-ACTIVITY
  • FEMALE GENITAL SENSATION
  • INDEX FSFI
  • BLOOD-FLOW
  • VAGINISMUS
  • DYSPAREUNIA
  • Vagina/innervation
  • Arousal/physiology
  • Dyspareunia/psychology
  • Humans
  • Young Adult
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Erotica

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