Sexual Correlates of Gagging in Women

Materials & Methods: Data were collected through questionnaires answered by women applying for counseling at the Sexual Medicine Center, Sheba Medical Center, Israel. Gagging reflex was assessed by gagging scale (GAS) consisting of questions with an increasing potential for gag reflex stimulation. Questionnaires regarding sexuality included information about past sexual abuse (SAD) and difficulties in vaginal penetration (PEN).

Results: 223 women participated in the study. Significant differences in GAS could be observed between PEN positive women and women who had no difficulties in vaginal penetration whatsoever (t test, p<0.005). Significant correlation was present between GAS and the amount of PEN positive stimuli (Pearson correlation coefficient, r=.237, p<0.001); namely, the more problems in vaginal penetration, the higher the GAS.

SAD positive women (N=90) scored significantly higher on GAS than SAD negative women (t-test, p<0.01). GAS scores of SAD positive women whose SAD included vaginal penetration (VP) were significantly higher than those of SAD positive women without VP and those of SAD negative women (ANOVA, p<0.001). A higher percentage of the SAD positive women (11%) preferred a woman dentist compared to the SAD negative women (2%), (Chi-square test, p<0.05)

Conclusions: In women, difficulties in vaginal penetration and history of past sexual abuse may be associated with higher gagging reflex.