Women, Painful Sex, and Mindfulness

Abstract Objectives Mindfulness-based approaches to treatment of sexual dysfunction associated with vulvar pain appear promising, but little is known about the specific processes of mindfulness in sexual interactions or if mindfulness may be of particular benefit to women who experience pain associated with sexual activity. This study aimed to examine the associations between sexual mindfulness and sexual function and distress among women who currently experience pain with sexual activity as compared to women who do not. Methods Women over the age of 18 were invited to complete an online survey, including measures of mindfulness in sexual activity, pain associated with sexual activity, sexual function, and sexual distress. Of the participants, 134 (42.1%) were experiencing pain and 184 (57.9%) were pain free. Results Higher levels of mindfulness during sexual activity were associated with greater sexual functioning and less sexual distress both among women with and without pain. However, the association between Observing skills and sexual functioning among women with pain was weaker if the capacity for nonreactivity was low. Sexual mindfulness contributed significantly to the explanation of sexual function and distress in both groups. Of the mindfulness facets, Acting with awareness consistently contributed, beyond the other facets, to the explanation of sexual outcomes. Conclusions The capacity to stay mindful in sexual interactions appears to be important to sexual functioning both among women who experience pain with sexual activity and among women who do not. These findings encourage further examination of the role of mindfulness and its facets in sexual outcomes.