Status:
RECRUITING
Virtual Reality Exposure for Vaginismus: A Replicated Single-Case Design
Lead Sponsor:
University of British Columbia
Collaborating Sponsors:
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Conditions:
Vaginismus
Eligibility:
FEMALE
19+ years
Phase:
NA
Brief Summary
Vaginismus is a sexual dysfunction characterized by involuntary tightening of the pelvic floor muscles, preventing vaginal intercourse. It is defined by an intense fear of vaginal penetration, leading...
Detailed Description
Purpose/Aims: VR is a new, powerful technology that, if effective, can directly improve clinical care offered to those suffering from vaginismus across Canada. This study will advance health-related ...
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion
- The investigators will recruit individuals who have a vagina. They expect that most participants will identify as cisgender, where sex is female and gender is woman, while others may have a female sex but identify as a different gender (e.g., genderdiverse). Transwomen (i.e., birth assigned males but identify as woman) who have had gender-affirming surgery (and so have a vagina) are eligible, as are transmen (i.e., birth assigned females but identify as men) who have not had bottom surgery (so have a vagina).
- Inclusion criteria: In addition to having a vagina, participants must have a diagnosis of vaginismus that requires self-reported involuntary tightness of the vaginal musculature that causes persistent interference with vaginal penetration lasting \>6 months; aged \>19 y, of any sexual orientation. Participants must be fluent in English (psychoeducational materials and questionnaires delivered in English), have normal or corrected-to-normal vision (to view the VR scenes during exposure), and be able to travel to Vancouver.
Exclusion
- Presence of: unprovoked vaginal pain; a vulvar skin condition (i.e., lichen sclerosus); an imperforate hymen; or epilepsy characterized by photosensitive seizures. Note: provoked vulvar pain is not an exclusion criterion because at least 40% of people with vaginismus report pain with attempted penetration.
Key Trial Info
Start Date :
April 1 2025
Trial Type :
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation :
ESTIMATED
End Date :
January 30 2027
Estimated Enrollment :
20 Patients enrolled
Trial Details
Trial ID
NCT06923306
Start Date
April 1 2025
End Date
January 30 2027
Last Update
September 25 2025
Active Locations (2)
Enter a location and click search to find clinical trials sorted by distance.
1
UBC Sexual Health Lab, Vancouver Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5M 1M9
2
Diamond Health Care Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z1M9