Implementing Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Vaginismus: From Efficacy to Clinical Integration (VIVID 3)

Overview

Vaginismus, a condition characterized by involuntary tightening of the pelvic floor muscles due to strong fear of vaginal insertion, impact ≥6% of the female population and can make vaginal intercourse and medical exams difficult. This project explores virtual reality exposure (VRE) as a new treatment approach. Building on our two previous studies showing that VRE is feasible and effective in helping patients to gradually face feared sexual encounters in a virtual environment, we aim to implement our VRE protocol at the BC Centre for Vulvar Health (BCCVH). We will assess barriers/facilitators to implementation, clinician uptake, and patients' outcomes and engagement.

PURPOSE: Vaginismus is a gynecologic condition characterized by involuntary tightening of the pelvic floor muscles. It is defined by intense fear of vaginal insertion, leading to persistent difficulties with vaginal intercourse and gynaecological exams The anticipation of pain provokes hypervigilance, negative cognitions, and avoidance behaviour, leading vaginismus to be conceptualized as a phobia. Equipped with data from Studies 1 and 2 from our 3-stage program for VRE to treat vaginismus, we have demonstrated that our VRE paradigm is feasible to deliver, usable, satisfactory to participants, and highly efficacious. We are now ideally positioned to evaluate the implementation of our VRE paradigm at VCH's BCCVH, which offers multidisciplinary treatment for individuals with chronic and distressing vulvo-vaginal pain and fear of vaginal insertion. Our goal is to use implementation science to study the phased implementation of our VRE protocol within the BCCVH, ultimately leading to better treatment options for women with vaginismus. JUSTIFICATION: Lack of effective treatments: While vaginismus is common, believed to impact 6% of the female population, it remains underdiagnosed, effective treatment options are limited, and patients often feel dismissed by care providers. Available psychological treatments for vaginismus rely on gradual self-insertion of vaginal dilators at home combined with psychological therapy. However, many individuals experience severe fear and avoidance that make it difficult to engage with these exercises, reducing treatment success. VRE Theoretical approach: This project uses a theoretical approach recognizing that the psychological fear of pain drives hypervigilance to sexual stimuli, leading to physiological responses such as tightening of the pelvic floor muscles which in turn causes physical pain. Thus, addressing fear is a key piece of managing this condition and can be achieved through fear extinction approaches such as exposure therapy. Traditionally, this approach involves repeatedly exposing an individual to the fear-inducing stimulus until their fear decreases (habituates). When exposure is successful, a new association develops and inhibits the retrieval of the original fear memory. Our VRE paradigm is built upon this theory. VRE immerses people in 3D simulations of feared situations and is as effective as real-life exposure for specific phobias. VRE for vaginismus is gradual exposure to feared sexual encounters in a virtual environment and can diminish phobic responses to vaginal insertion. Given that people with vaginismus cope via intense avoidance and often do not perform recommended at-home exposure exercises, the "immersive" nature of VRE ideally target this avoidance. PROOF OF CONCEPT: Findings from Study 1 \& 2 of this 3-stage VRE research program showed that: 1) VR sexual stimuli elicit a greater fear in individuals with vaginismus relative to individuals without, 2) most participants would participate in a VRE intervention in clinic if it was available, and 3) participants strongly support the efficacy of the VRE approach. Together, these findings support the readiness to move forward with preparing for clinic implementation of this approach. The BCCVH is a provincial referral centre providing interdisciplinary, evidence-based care for vulvar and pelvic pain conditions, seeing 250 new patients each year. Its established clinical infrastructure, patient volume, and commitment to innovation make it an ideal setting to evaluate the implementation of VRE within existing clinic workflow. OBJECTIVES: Our goal is to use implementation science to study the phased implementation of our VRE protocol within the BCCVH. The specific aims are to: (1) Conduct a barriers/facilitators assessment; (2) Evaluate clinician uptake, feasibility, and acceptability with pilot implementation of VRE; and (3) Assess patient reported outcomes of anxiety, sexual distress, pain, and home treatment engagement after VRE.