{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T09:06:23Z","timestamp":1790067983193,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":23,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]],"date-time":"2026-06-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782777600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/pages\/standard-publication-reuse-rights"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Vaginal massage comprises a range of manual therapeutic techniques involving internal and external manipulation of vaginal and pelvic floor tissues. Although used in pelvic floor rehabilitation, manual therapy, and complementary medicine, its role in sexual medicine and women's pelvic health has not been comprehensively reviewed. This review summarizes and evaluates the current evidence regarding the therapeutic applications, clinical outcomes, and research gaps associated with vaginal massage.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A narrative review was conducted using 8 electronic databases. Searches included the terms \u201cvaginal massage\u201d, \u201cpelvic massage\u201d, \u201cpelvic floor massage\u201d, \u201cgynecological massage\u201d, \u201cgynecology massage\u201d, \u201cvaginal acupressure\u201d, and \u201cYoni massage\u201d. Following predefined eligibility criteria, 14 clinical studies and case reports were included and synthesized narratively.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The studies were grouped into 4 clinical domains: sexual health (5 studies), pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) (2), chronic pelvic pain (CPP) (4), and pelvic organ prolapse and uterine malposition (3). Across these conditions, vaginal massage was associated with improvements in sexual function, orgasmic capacity, dyspareunia, pelvic floor muscle function, CPP, prolapse-related symptoms, and quality of life. Proposed mechanisms included myofascial release, trigger point deactivation, improved tissue mobility and circulation, reduced pelvic floor hypertonicity, and enhanced body awareness. However, the evidence was limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous massage techniques, poorly standardized protocols, multimodal interventions, and a predominance of case reports and uncontrolled studies.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Current evidence suggests that vaginal massage may be a useful adjunct to multidisciplinary management of selected sexual and pelvic floor disorders, particularly CPP and PFD. However, its efficacy remains uncertain because of methodological limitations and inconsistent reporting of treatment protocols. Well-designed randomized controlled trials with standardized interventions, validated outcome measures, and explicit reporting of ethical safeguards are needed to establish the efficacy, safety, and clinical role of vaginal massage in sexual medicine and pelvic health.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1093\/sxmrev\/qeag070","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]],"date-time":"2026-09-08T11:38:48Z","timestamp":1788867528000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Vaginal massage in sexual medicine and pelvic health: a narrative review"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Koby","family":"Mike","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Maarag Academy , Pardes Hanna 3705445,","place":["Israel"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sujay","family":"Shemesh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Maarag Academy , Pardes Hanna 3705445,","place":["Israel"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026092204420689700_ref1","volume-title":"Clinical Holistic Health: Holistic Sexology and Acupressure through the Vagina (Hippocratic Pelvic Massage)","author":"Ventegodt","year":"2006"},{"issue":"3","key":"2026092204420689700_ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"663","DOI":"10.1007\/s00404-022-06514-3","article-title":"Pelvic floor physical therapy and mindfulness: approaches for chronic pelvic pain in women\u2014a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"307","author":"Bittelbrunn","year":"2023","journal-title":"Arch Gynecol Obstet"},{"issue":"1","key":"2026092204420689700_ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajog.2024.08.006","article-title":"Effectiveness of nonpharmacological conservative therapies for chronic pelvic pain in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"232","author":"Starzec-Proserpio","year":"2025","journal-title":"Am J Obstet Gynecol"},{"issue":"5","key":"2026092204420689700_ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2421","DOI":"10.1007\/s10103-022-03501-7","article-title":"Vaginal stretching therapy and class IIIB vaginal laser treatment for pelvic floor myofascial pain: a randomized clinical trial","volume":"37","author":"Frederice","year":"2022","journal-title":"Lasers Med Sci"},{"key":"2026092204420689700_ref5","first-page":"25","article-title":"The role of manual therapy in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction","volume":"114","author":"Whelan","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Assoc Chart Physiother Womens Health"},{"issue":"4","key":"2026092204420689700_ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100775","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaim.2023.100775","article-title":"Ayurveda management of cystocele, uterine prolapse and weak pelvic floor strength-a case report","volume":"14","author":"Muraleedharan","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Ayurveda Integr Med"},{"issue":"12","key":"2026092204420689700_ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.47070\/ijapr.v12i12.3469","article-title":"Add on effect of Sthanika Chikitsa in second degree uterine prolapse along with standard conservative management, pelvic floor exercise","volume":"12","author":"Thomas","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Ayurveda Pharma Res"},{"key":"2026092204420689700_ref8","first-page":"41","volume-title":"Explorations in Baltic Medical History, 1850\u20132015. 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