Education

Let’s Talk About Vaginismus

‘Women’s problems down there’ — are viewed as taboo and so inappropriate for discussion

Today I want to chat to you about a female health issue which is often swept under the carpet but is more common than you may think…

Symptoms

Vaginismus is a condition that causes involuntary tightening of the muscles surrounding the vagina. This may make penetration painful or impossible.

These symptoms can occur while

• attempting intercourse, which could be PIV or fingers.
• inserting a tampon
• during a gynaecological examination.

Common symptoms include burning or stinging pain upon penetration, as well as intense fear or loss of desire related to amorous activity.

Causes

The causes of vaginismus are often varied and complex. They may incorporate traumatic experiences, such as painful first intercourse or child-abuse. Other issues like concerns of pregnancy or childbirth can also have a bearing, as might a deeply ingrained belief that any form of physical intimacy is wrong.

Importantly, vaginismus can affect many activities. It can interfere with using sanitary protection, undergoing gynaecological exams, or even childbirth. This will possibly leave emotional scars, leading to depression.

Secondary vaginismus

Vaginismus can affect women at any time.

Secondary vaginismus occurs when a person who had previously had penetrative intercourse without problems suddenly experiences the onset of muscle spasms.

Various things can trigger this, including severe trauma, childbirth, surgery, infection, or psychological factors.

Treatment

With proper support and treatment, individuals can often successfully manage or even resolve symptoms.

Treatment may include:

• Pelvic floor exercises to help teach the patient how to relax the pelvic floor muscles.
• Counselling or therapy to look into any underlying psychological factors. This may include cognitive-behavioural therapy.
• Desensitization techniques: This could involve slowly introducing penetration, starting with non-threatening activities and gradually moving on to more challenging ones.

Education

One of the biggest barriers against resolving vaginismus is lack of education. Once more, it is a female health topic that has not been discussed, written about or researched enough. This is because of many things, such as the strange concept that — women’s problems down there — are viewed as taboo, surrounded in secrecy and so inappropriate for discussion.

Of course, the lack of attention surrounding this issue leads to limited research and resources, plus a general misunderstanding about what vaginismus actually is.

I wanted to put in some links to places providing reliable information, but most were not adding anything to what I have written here. If you think you have vaginismus, then the first thing to do is bring up the topic with your doctor and discuss treatment options. Do not let anyone fob you off.

Only by promoting honest, open conversation and sharing our personal knowledge can we reduce stigma and raise awareness so those who need treatment and support find it easily and without shame.

Source: National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=Vaginismus

We invite you to join us here on Mmm Mondays, where we foster an environment that encourages and embraces such topics.

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