Diagnosis and treatment of unconsummated marriage in an Iranian couple.

Mahshid Bokaie1 , Zahra Bostani Khalesi, Seyed Mojtaba Yasini-Ardekani

1. Research Center for Nursing and Midwifery Care, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
2. Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
3. Addiction and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Shahid Sadoughi
University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Unconsummated marriage is a problem among couples who would not be able to perform natural sexual intercourse and vaginal penetration. This disorder is more common in developing countries and sometimes couples would come up
with non-technical and non-scientific methods to overcome their problem. Multi-dimensional approach and narrative exposure
therapy used in this case.

Methods: This study would report a case of unconsummated marriage between a couple after 6 years. The main problem of
this couple was vaginismus and post-traumatic stress.

Results: Treatment with multi-dimensional approach for this couple included methods like narrative exposure therapy, educating the anatomy of female and male reproductive system, correcting misconceptions, educating foreplay, educating body  exploring and non-sexual and sexual massage and penetrating the vagina first by women finger and then men’s after relaxation.  The entire stages of the treatment lasted for four sessions and at the one-month follow-up couple’s satisfaction was desirable.

Conclusion:Unconsummated marriage is one of the main sexual problems; it is more common in developing countries than
developed countries and cultural factors are effective on intensifying this disorder. The use of multi-dimensional approach in
this study led to expedite diagnosis and treatment of vaginismus.

Keywords: Unconsummated marriage, couple’s therapy, vaginismus, behavioral therapy.