The present experimental study aims to examine the role of fear and anxiety in women with vaginismus. Still another goal is to evaluate whether vaginismus can be distinguished from other sexual pain disorders such as vulvar vestibulitis syndrome by the following variables: behavioral, affective and physiological responses to vaginal penetration, presence of vaginal muscle spasm, pain experience, and sensitivity of the vestibular area.

The study systematically examines the clinical attributes of pain experienced by women with postmenopausal dyspareunia. It also investigates the possible existence of different subtypes of dyspareunic pain disorders in postmenopausal women, and into whether or not biological, endocrinological, psychological, and interpersonal variables are predictive or subtype.

In order to evaluate vulvovaginal candidiasis as a potential etiological path way in some cases of vulvar vestibulitis, an animal model using chronic Candida albicans infections is in development. This animal VVS model tests mechanical sensitivity following chronic vaginal infections and correlated these shifts with reduced sexual receptivity.

This study investigates the utility of thermopgraphy as a reliable and valid measure of sexual arousal. This technology is unique in that it is equally applicable to men and women.