Common Vaginl Problems: Vaginismus

What is it?

This is the persistent involuntary tightening of the muscles of the vaginal wall due to spasms whenever penetration is attempted. It can feel mildly uncomfortable or it can be very painful. It could disrupt or completely stop your sex life, and can lead to distress, a loss of confidence and relationship problems. It may even prevent you starting a family. It can also make gynaecological and pelvic examinations very difficult or impossible.

What causes it?

The reason why vaginsmus occurs is not fully understood. It is usually linked to anxiety and fear of having sex. But it is unclear which came first. The condition or the anxiety.

Some women have vaginismus in all situations and with any object such as tampons, penis or a speculum for vaginal examination. Others have it only in certain circumstances, like with one partner but not others, or only with sexual intercourse but not with tampons or during vaginal exams.

Even though the cause is not known there are a few factors that are known to play a part in the development of vaginismus.

Factors can include:

·         Thinking the vagina is too small

·         Fear of pregnancy

·         Negative sexual thoughts such as thinking sex is painful and will cause damage

·         Previous sexual abuse

·         Painful first sexual experience

·         Relationship problems

·         Underlying infection

·         painful conditions of the vagina and surrounding area, such as vulvodynia (http://junesecrets.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/common-vaginal-problems-vulvodynia.html )

·         damage to the vagina (for example, during childbirth)

What does it look like?

The main symptom of vaginismus is tightening of the vagina, which can make penetration difficult or even impossible. The symptoms and severity can vary from person to person. Whilst some women cannot insert anything at all into the vagina because it closes up completely, others can insert a tampon and even have a vaginal exam but cannot have penetrative sex and other are able to do both but the sex is very painful.

Painful sex is often a woman's first sign that she has vaginismus. The pain happens only with penetration. It usually goes away after withdrawal, but not always.

Other symptoms of vaginismus can include:

·         a burning or stinging pain when the vagina is penetrated

·         loss of sexual desire if penetration is attempted

The tightening of the vagina is involuntary and cannot be stopped. The body has learned to associate penetration with pain and, whenever penetration is expected, the vaginal muscles tighten as a protective reaction.

Women with vaginismus do like sex and want to engage in it. They enjoy closeness and share sexual pleasure with their partner. They can  even achieve orgasm during foreplay and oral sex. It's only when sexual intercourse is suggested or attempted that their vagina tightens to prevent penetration.

How can I get rid of it without meds?

Self-help techniques may be employed to treat the condition if a physical underlying cause has been ruled out. They include

·         Sex therapy to help address underlying psychological issues.

Vaginal Trainers available at Amazon via Nueras shopping mall

·         Vaginal trainers to help you relax the muscles in your vagina by gradually getting you used to having something inserted into it.

·         Relaxation and exploration (touching) exercises. Your therapist may teach you a technique called progressive relaxation. This involves tensing and relaxing different muscles in your body in a particular order. You can then practise tensing and relaxing your pelvic floor muscles before trying to insert your finger or a cone.

·         Pelvic floor exercises. http://junesecrets.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Tio%20Balls/

·         Sensate focus. This is a type of sex therapy that you and your partner do together. It starts with you both agreeing not to have sex for a number of weeks or months. During this time, you can still touch each other, but not in the genital area (or a woman's breasts). The idea is to explore your bodies, knowing that you will not have sex. After the agreed period of time, you gradually start touching each other's genital areas, which should eventually build up to penetrative sex. 

Tried without meds but it’s still there.

Treatment of vaginismus with medication or even surgery will largely depend on what's causing it.If there is an obvious physical cause, such as an endometriosis, scar tissue from previous surgery, infection or oversensitive nerves at the opening of the vagina (provoked vulvodynia), these may be treated with medication or surgery.

Copyright June's Secrets 2015