Immersive Visual Modulation and Ambient Music Therapy During Transvaginal Ultrasonography in Women With Vaginismus

Overview

Vaginismus is a sexual dysfunction characterized by involuntary contractions of the pelvic floor muscles that prevent vaginal penetration. This condition is often associated with intense fear, anxiety, and avoidance behaviors. Vaginismus can negatively impact not only sexual life but also gynecological examination processes, psychosocial well-being, and quality of life. In cases of vaginismus, where psychological components play a significant role, it is believed that virtual reality technology can reduce fear and avoidance behaviors by providing a safe and controlled environment. In particular, relaxing nature images and distracting visual content are expected to contribute to the treatment process by reducing anxiety levels. This study aims to evaluate the effects of virtual reality applications added to the standard approach in vaginismus treatment, and music therapy combined with virtual reality, on treatment success, pain level, anxiety level, and patient satisfaction.

Vaginismus is a sexual dysfunction characterized by involuntary contractions of the pelvic floor muscles that prevent vaginal penetration. This condition is often associated with intense fear, anxiety, and avoidance behaviors. Vaginismus can negatively impact not only sexual life but also gynecological examination processes, psychosocial well-being, and quality of life. Virtual reality (VR) technology has been used in many areas of healthcare in recent years for diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative purposes. In particular, VR applications have been shown to be effectively used in ophthalmology for visual rehabilitation, surgical training, amblyopia treatment, and patient adaptation processes. The clinical use of VR-based applications in amblyopia treatment and their inclusion in health insurance coverage supports the clinical applicability of this technology. VR technology is reported to have positive effects on attention redirection, relaxation, and anxiety reduction by creating controlled visual stimuli. The use of VR in gynecological procedures, pelvic examinations, and other invasive procedures has been shown to reduce pain and anxiety levels. Furthermore, VR applications have been reported to increase patient comfort and improve procedure tolerance in invasive urological procedures such as cystoscopy. In cases of vaginismus, where psychological components play a significant role, it is thought that virtual reality technology can reduce fear and avoidance behaviors by providing a safe and controlled environment. It is predicted that relaxing nature images, distracting visual content, and immersive experiences can contribute to the treatment process by reducing anxiety levels. The initiation of clinical trials evaluating the use of VR in vaginismus treatment in recent years shows that this approach is gaining increasing attention. Music therapy, on the other hand, is a non-pharmacological supportive method that has been shown to have positive effects on anxiety control, pain management, and emotional regulation. Studies in the literature report that the combined use of VR and music therapy can reduce symptoms in chronic pain, anxiety disorders, and stress-related conditions. This effect is thought to be related to autonomic nervous system regulation, multisensory integration, attention modulation, and emotional relaxation mechanisms. This study aims to evaluate the effects of VR applications added to the standard approach in vaginismus treatment, and music therapy combined with VR, on treatment success, pain level, anxiety level, and patient satisfaction.