Vaginismus - How To Treat It?

Vaginismus is a medical condition of women where the vaginal muscles get spasm or contracted. This happens during sexual intercourse or while inserting a tampon. Vaginismus can be slightly uncomfortable or sometimes can be painful. This condition can develop at any age, some females experience it in their teens when they initiate the use of tampons while other during their first sexual intercourse. Sometimes it can develop in the later years of life, after having a normal sexual function. It can sometimes happen in certain conditions like during sexual intercourse and while using a tampon.

Causes and symptoms

The exact cause of Vaginismus is still unknown to the medical specialists but it is considered to be as a psychological condition where physical conditions can also contribute. It can develop out of anxiety, negative thoughts regarding sex, fear of sex or due to any sexual abuse or trauma in the past. Urinary tract infections and yeast can also increase the pain of women experiencing Vaginismus.

The very first symptom or sign of Vaginismus for a woman is painful sexual intercourse especially during penetration but can sometimes last even after the withdrawal or while using a tampon or during an internal pelvic examination. The pain is usually described as a tearing sensation.

Treatment

There are various ways of treating Vaginismus depending upon the cause. One should first confirm the cause of the problem which will help choose and direct the treatment options.

• Kegel exercises help in relaxing and tightening the pelvic floor which regulates one’s vagina, bladder, and rectum. The first exercise is to stop the stream of urine while urinating. There are steps to perform this exercise:

1. Squeeze the pelvic floor muscles till the count of 10

2. Relax the muscles till the count of 10

One can perform this exercise anytime and as many times as possible.

• Botox injection is a simple procedure for the treatment of vaginismus.

• Vaginal dilators are also used to help treat Vaginismus. The dilators are inserted inside the vagina to help stretch the vaginal muscles and make them flexible. The size of the dilators can increase with time and comfort of the patient.

• Sex therapy and counselling can also be used to treat Vaginismus especially in case of sexual fear or with past sexual trauma. During the therapy and counselling, the patients and sometimes their partners are given sex education and how their body works during sexual intercourse. Counselling may include relaxation techniques and hypnosis to help the patient feel more comfortable with sexual intercourse. Counselling and therapy can take a few sessions.

Take Away

Vaginismus is a medical condition where women experience pain in the vagina during sexual intercourse and while inserting a tampon. This problem is related to the vagina where vaginal muscles get contracted and spasm. There are a number of causes of which mainly there are psychological. Women who experience any of the symptoms of Vaginismus should immediately consult the doctor as there are treatments available for the same.