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Vaginismus is an involuntary spasm of the muscles surrounding the vagina. The spasms close the vagina.
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsVaginismus is considered a disorder of sexual dysfunction. It has several possible causes, including past sexual trauma or abuse, psychological factors, or a history of discomfort with sexual intercourse. Sometimes no cause can be found.
Vaginismus is an uncommon condition. The exact number of women who have this problem is unknown.
Women with varying degrees of vaginismus often develop anxiety regarding sexual intercourse. The condition causes penetration to be difficult and painful, or even impossible. However, this does not mean the woman cannot become sexually aroused. Many women may have orgasms when the clitoris is stimulated.
Symptoms- Vaginal penetration during sex is difficult or impossible.
- Vaginal pain is common during sexual intercourse or an attempted pelvic exam.
A pelvic exam can confirm the diagnosis of vaginismus. A medical history and complete physical exam is important to rule out other causes of pain with sexual intercourse (dyspareunia).
TreatmentTreatment involves extensive therapy that combines education, counseling, and behavioral exercises. Such exercises include pelvic floor muscle contraction and relaxation (Kegel exercises).
Vaginal dilation exercises are recommended using plastic dilators. This should be done under the direction of a sex therapist or other health care provider. Such therapy should involve the partner, and can gradually include more intimate contact, ultimately resulting in intercourse.
Educational resources should be provided. This includes information about sexual anatomy, physiology, the sexual response cycle, and common myths about sex.
Expectations (prognosis)When treated by a specialist in sex therapy, success rates are generally very high.
ComplicationsVaginismus may lead to unsatisfying sex activity and tension in intimate relationships.
Calling your health care providerIf you have pain associated with intercourse or difficulties with successful vaginal penetration, contact your health care provider.
ReferencesBhasin S, Basson R. Sexual dysfunction in men and women. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 19.
Shafer LC. Sexual disorders and sexual dysfunction. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2008:chap 36.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoVaginismus is an involuntary spasm of the muscles surrounding the vagina. The spasms close the vagina.
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsVaginismus is considered a disorder of sexual dysfunction. It has several possible causes, including past sexual trauma or abuse, psychological factors, or a history of discomfort with sexual intercourse. Sometimes no cause can be found.
Vaginismus is an uncommon condition. The exact number of women who have this problem is unknown.
Women with varying degrees of vaginismus often develop anxiety regarding sexual intercourse. The condition causes penetration to be difficult and painful, or even impossible. However, this does not mean the woman cannot become sexually aroused. Many women may have orgasms when the clitoris is stimulated.
Symptoms- Vaginal penetration during sex is difficult or impossible.
- Vaginal pain is common during sexual intercourse or an attempted pelvic exam.
A pelvic exam can confirm the diagnosis of vaginismus. A medical history and complete physical exam is important to rule out other causes of pain with sexual intercourse (dyspareunia).
TreatmentTreatment involves extensive therapy that combines education, counseling, and behavioral exercises. Such exercises include pelvic floor muscle contraction and relaxation (Kegel exercises).
Vaginal dilation exercises are recommended using plastic dilators. This should be done under the direction of a sex therapist or other health care provider. Such therapy should involve the partner, and can gradually include more intimate contact, ultimately resulting in intercourse.
Educational resources should be provided. This includes information about sexual anatomy, physiology, the sexual response cycle, and common myths about sex.
Expectations (prognosis)When treated by a specialist in sex therapy, success rates are generally very high.
ComplicationsVaginismus may lead to unsatisfying sex activity and tension in intimate relationships.
Calling your health care providerIf you have pain associated with intercourse or difficulties with successful vaginal penetration, contact your health care provider.
ReferencesBhasin S, Basson R. Sexual dysfunction in men and women. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 19.
Shafer LC. Sexual disorders and sexual dysfunction. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2008:chap 36.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 07/23/2010
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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What are the common symptoms of vaginismus?
The most common symptoms of vaginismus are difficult, burning or stinging pain, fear of pain, discomfort, fatigue, tiredness, mood swings and many more.
Is characterized by strong involuntary contractions of the muscles in the outer third of the vagina?
Vaginismus
Would someone go to a Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic if they had vaginismus?
What is Vaginismus? First, let's understand what vaginismus is. Vaginismus is an involuntary spasm of the vaginal entrance making intercourse impossible. Sarrel and Sarrel (1979) expand their definition of vaginismus to include difficult or uncomfortable penetration due to involuntary vaginal contractions. With this expanded definition, about 20% of all women seen by the Sarrel's experienced some degree of vaginismus. The Cause. The cause is usually of a psychological origin, often fear. Young girls are often told that sex is dirty and bad. They may even be scolded or punished for being curious about their own sexuality. Negative sexual experiences, pain during intercourse or a bad sexual experience may also cause vaginismus. Religious or cultural beliefs can reinforce the "ideal of the virgin" or "good girl" syndrome. There may even be a history of enjoyable intercourse, but a vaginal infection or the physical effects of childbirth may be the cause of vaginismus. Most important thing to understand is; The initial cause of vaginismus is emotional and is rooted in your mind, not your body. Your body is fine and can function perfectly but the mind is blocking such action. This mental block to the body is very common, usually caused by repressed negative emotions or maybe a single traumatic experience. Knowing this, we can look at a very effective approach in eliminating vaginismus. The Solution. The subconscious mind has accepted a negative suggestion regarding intercourse or any form of penetration. It is also possible for the mind to accept positive suggestions to reverse, eliminate or decrease the negative behavior pattern currently experienced. Fist see a gyn doctor to eliminate physical causes, then a psychologist to help with guided imagery to increase comfort and intimacy.
Can your partner vaginismus problem affect your ejaculation?
No it should not make any difference to the male, however if she is nervous and it is difficult to have sex this will have an impact on you. It can affect your confidence which can ultimatley affect your ejaculation, this should quickly go away once her vaginismus has gone Hope this has helped
What has the author Linda Valins written?
Linda Valins has written: 'When a woman's body says no to sex' -- subject(s): Vaginismus 'Intimate Matters'
I sometimes feel hardness between my vagina and anus. Is this normal?
Yes, that is called vaginismus. As long as it doesnt take a long time to contract.
What is the best solution for vaginismus?
The goal of treatment for vaginismus is to eliminate painful sex. Treatment usually involves the use of vaginal dilators to relax and stretch or re-stretch the vaginal muscles. Additional treatment may involve increasing lubrication through topical creams, using hormone therapy or by increasing the blood flow with Viagra, as well as relaxation exercises and breathing techniques.What is most important to understand is that the physical part of the condition it is very treatable with a range of treatment options; these treatments often result in a successful outcome in a relatively short period of time. Using dilators and a topical anesthetic along with professional coaching, most women find their condition resolved in two-to-three months.For extreme cases of vaginismus, where a patient is unsuccessful after treatment with dilators and coaching, and in cases where a patient is extremely fearful of standard treatment there is a vaginismus treatment available using Botox®.There is no quick fix for vaginismus and it can also depend on how it started eg sexual abuse, unknown.There are dilators that can be used to expand the walls of the vagina to make it easier to have sex and there are counseling sessions to find out the cause of your vaginismus.The best way to find out about the different tools to use is on a specialised website for the condition. It has stories from people who have suffered from it and the different methods they used to overcome it, hope this has helped
Why would someone have vaginismus symptoms?
This condition is generally found in patients who experience conditions involving anxiety. It seems to be a stress response. Desensitivity and learning to control the internal pelvic muscles can start to alleviate the discomfort but talking with a mental health professional might be most effective.
If your girlfriend has vaginismus and often dries and gets infections even though you have tried lubrication but she can not see a doctor because of the bill and parents what should she do?
Masturbate a lotIf she doesn't have her own insurance, there could be a real issue with ages here. It means she is young enough to be on their insurance which may mean she is too young to be active sexually and legally.
Why do you get abdominal pain when you get sexually aroused?
Think where the pain is exactly. If it is around you navel , may be fibroid tumors in you uterus. Vaginal would be vaginismus , muscle spasms of the vagina. If you get some sort of pain every time you get aroused , please see your Women's Health provider as soon as you can. This is not an emergency , but neither of these things will go away on their own, and can get worse.
Why wouldn't a womans vaginal muscles contract during intercourse?
May be that the best question to ask is, " why would a woman's vaginal muscles contract during intercourse ? the answer to this is what is medically called vaginismus. This is reflex contraction of the vaginal muscles during intercourse due to serveral reasons ranging from anxiety to past history of abuse. the treatment for this is desensitization and graded dilatation.
Do guys go through as much pain as girls after sex?
Typically girls only should have pain the first few times she has sex. If she is feeling pain after that point, she needs to contact her gynecologies. Dyspareunia (painful intercourse), can be due to a few things that should be evaluated by a qualified doctor. Men should not typically have pain with sex either. If a man feels pain with intercourse, he needs to contact his doctor, since again, it can be due to things that need to be treated. There are two basic exceptions to the above rules. If a woman has pain on her first few penetrations, it is considered normal. The man who has sex with her may also feel some pain. The other main exception is if a woman has a condition called vaginismus. It is basically a spasm of the vagina and it can clamp down on a guy's penis leading to some pain and her ejecting the penis. If she has this condition she needs to see her doctor about it. Contrary to some urban legends that have been circulating on the internet, the penis cannot get stuck in a girl if she has vaginismus.
