Functional sexual pain disorders in women are a particular challenge to the gynecologist, inasmuch as phobic avoidance and guarding on the part of the patient lead to difficulties in the gynecological examination and diagnosis. In some such cases examination may even be impossible. Vaginismus is the commonly diagnosed etiology of such cases. This article offers an overview of vaginismus and approaches to its treatment but also examines a subset of penetration-avoidant patients who do not appear to have a pain component. We have reviewed this separate category conceptually and clinically, and propose that this case subset be separated from the diagnosis of vaginismus and designated as vaginal penetration phobia VPP. We further propose that this category be diagnosed as one of several possible presentations of phobic disorder, under the rubric of mental health disorder, and thus be separated from gynecology.

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The Fear of Sexual Intimacy
Erotophobia is a generalized term that encompasses a wide range of specific fears. It's generally understood to include any phobia that is related to sex. Erotophobia is often complex, and many sufferers have more than one specific fear. Like any phobia, erotophobia varies dramatically in both symptoms and severity. It is a very personalized fear, and no two sufferers are likely to experience it in the same way. You may recognize some of your own fears in this list.
INTRODUCTION
I'm not normal. Why can't I just be like my friends? I don't think I'll ever be able to have anything inside me, ever. Is my boyfriend going to leave me? This is her story. I can't remember when the fear of my vagina started, I just know I was always really scared of sex and didn't want to attempt it. I never touched or went near my vagina and I didn't want to look at it.
For some people, even thinking about it can cause these feelings. A person might also have general fear or anxiety about being emotionally close with another person. This can then translate into a fear of sexual intimacy. Phobias involve a more marked reaction than simply not liking or being afraid of something. By definition, phobias involve intense fear or anxiety. They cause physical and psychological reactions that typically interfere with normal functioning.