Mrs H. is a 38-year-old divorcee with a 12-year-old daughter. For the 10 years since her divorce she had worked full-time as a beautician and cared for her daughter, who suffered from asthma. During that time
she had no sexual partner, but then she met a man at a party, was surprised at the intensity of her feelings and ended up pregnant. As she got up on the examination couch she apologised for her unshaved legs saying that she waxed everybody else’s legs but never had time to do her own. She was also very concerned that the doctor might find her genitals dirty or smelly. This woman had set aside her own needs in order to look after her daughter. She seemed to feel her own sexuality was something dirty and to be avoided. The fact that her brief time of pleasure had led to an abortion had added to her feelings of self-disgust.
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