Fifty-two women with vaginismus receiving care at the Sexology Outpatient Clinic at UNICAMP were submitted to sex therapy using systematic in vivo desensitization techniques. When they were considered ready for coitus, they were instructed to return to the clinic after three attempts at penile penetration.

Twenty-two patients (42%) succeeded in completing full coitus by the third attempt. The remaining 30 patients did not succeed in having coitus by the third attempt because of a state of situational erectile dysfunction in their partner, probably as a result of anxiety, inexperience and/or lack of confidence. In these 30 cases, 15 couples were treated only with sex therapy (once a week), and the other 15 were treated with oral administration of 20 mg of tadalafil to the partner.

Results showed that 12/15 cases treated with tadalafil succeeded in having full coitus at the first attempt and 3 at the second attempt. On the other hand, among the couples who received only sex therapy, 6 succeeded in having complete coitus by the 9th therapeutic session, while 9 needed as many as 12 sessions to achieve success.

The use of tadalafil in situational erectile dysfunction in the partners of women receiving treatment for vaginismus shortens the time of follow-up by 2 to 3 months, avoiding greater emotional stress for a couple already highly compromised with anxiety. The shortening of treatment time is an important factor in public service, since it leads to improved attendance in the unit.