How Common is Vaginismus?
The prevalence of vaginismus is hard to pin down. Stemming from societal taboos, it’s not the easiest thing to chat about with your doctor. Thus, it is difficult to predict how many females deal with vaginismus.
Underlying Causes of Vaginismus
It’s difficult to find the exact cause of vaginismus for health professionals, as its not solely a physical symptom; it can also be related to mental issues. Some of the causes being
- Anxiety disorders
- Vaginal tears from giving birth
- Past surgeries
- Emotional aversions to sex, resulting from past traumatic experiences or abuse.
Symptoms of Vaginismus
Discomfort or pain when trying vaginal penetration is a common symptom of vaginismus.
Painful sex, known as dyspareunia, is another indicator of vaginismus. The pain occurs explicitly during penetration and may persist post-withdrawal. It’s often described as a burning sensation.
Being unable to undergo pelvic exams due to muscle spasms or pain in the vagina also points to the diagnosis.
These symptoms of vaginismus aren’t something to ignore. However, having vaginismus does not exclude you from enjoying sexual activities. Women with the condition can still experience sexual pleasure. Several sexual practices don’t require penetration, like Massage, and Masturbation.
You cannot just wish these symptoms away; obtaining the correct vaginismus treatment is critical, so don’t delay.
Diagnosis Process of Vaginismus
Your physician will inquire about your symptoms and your medical and sexual backgrounds. They will perform a pelvic exam to search for any other health issues that may be causing pain. st.. Sometimes conditions like endometriosis, vaginal infections or any vaginal lesions may present with dyspareunia and such conditions need further evaluation and targeted treatments.
Vaginismus treatment and therapies aim to reduce the reflex that triggers your muscles to tense up. Treatments also target worries or phobias that lead to vaginismus.
Your healthcare practitioner may prescribe one or more of the following procedures:
Topical application: Topical lidocaine or formulated lotions may alleviate the discomfort associated with this illness.
Physical therapy: Women with vaginismus can practice exercises to manage and relax the muscles surrounding their vagina. This is known as gradual desensitization, and the goal is to become comfortable with penetration.
Your counsellor may first encourage you to do Kegel exercises. You may be asked to squeeze the muscles you use to stop the flow of pee.
- Compress the muscles.
- Keep them for 2–10 seconds.
- Relax your muscles.
- Do approximately 10 Kegels exercises at a time and at least 3 times a day
Vaginal dilators: Women with vaginismus use Vaginal dilator therapy to make vaginal penetration more comfortable and painless. Learn how to use vaginal dilators under the supervision of an expert. Vaginal dilator therapy employs tube-shaped instruments with various diameters. Their main goal is to extend the vagina. The dilators will gradually enlarge. This allows the vaginal muscles to expand and become supple. To facilitate insertion, your provider may advise you to apply a topical numbing lotion to the exterior of the vagina beforehand.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Anxiety associated with sexual disease is common. Therefore, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can help you decrease anxiety and trauma-related stress-related disorders caused by vaginismus.
Psychosexual counselling: Qualified sex therapists assist single people and couples in rediscovering the joy in their sex.
Vaginismus and Infertility
This condition can pose problem with the attempts at pregnancy. As the prerequisite to achieve a natural pregnancy is not fulfilled, it can create undue stress among couples and tense the marital relationships. Along with finding the cause of vaginismus and treating it, procedures like Intrauterine insemination (IUI) or IVF can be performed for such patients under sedation/ anaesthesia so the dream of motherhood can be achieved.
Wrapping up
If you are suffering from vaginismus, do not be embarrassed or ashamed to seek solutions for this condition. Having open talks with your partner about your problems, as well as receiving proper help from medical experts or therapists, are excellent ways to overcome this condition.
