Mindfulness and Management of Low Desire and Vulvovaginal Pain.
Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America June 1, 2024 Lori A Brotto, Melanie Altas 5 citations
Mindfulness—present-moment, nonjudgmental awareness—significantly improves sexual desire, reduces sexual pain, and lowers sex-related distress, according to systematic reviews and meta-analyses. It works by decreasing self-criticism and depression while increasing self-compassion, attention, and interoceptive awareness. Mindfulness helps individuals connect with their bodies, deepening understanding of sensations and desires, and reduces focus on negative, judgmental, and catastrophic thoughts about sex and pain. It also significantly reduces vulvovaginal pain intensity, with improvements retained a year later.