What Is Vaginismus and How to Overcome It?

People think that sex is "fun and enjoyable" for everyone because of the way society and culture talk about it. This couldn't be further from the truth for women with vaginismus.

People who have this problem find it very painful to make love. They try to avoid it at all costs, which is terrible for them, their partners, and their relationships.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though. If you take the proper steps, you can treat the problem. Check out this guide on how to get rid of vaginismus and enjoy a happy sex life.

What is Vaginismus?

When a woman's vaginal muscles clench up so tightly that nothing can fit inside, this is called vaginismus. Most of the time, it happens right before some vaginal entry. You might feel it before having sex, going to the doctor, masturbating, or even when you're trying to use a tampon.  That's a good question.


Researchers think that the tightening of the pelvic and vaginal muscles is caused by an unconscious fear that vaginal entry will be painful. The exact cause of vaginismus is still unknown. Because of this underlying worry, the mind tells the vaginal muscles to tighten and contract. This prevents entry and keeps the body from feeling pain or discomfort.

What makes this happen to different women can be various. Some people become afraid of vaginal entry after having a baby, getting pelvic surgery, or hurting their pelvis. For others, it's because of the pain of vaginal dryness during menopause, interstitial cystitis, or an infection in the vaginal area. It's called Secondary Vaginismus because the vaginal tightness doesn't show up until much later in life after the person has had a pain-free entry.

Types:

Genital or pelvic pain comes in different forms and can affect people of all ages. It used to be called that before it became part of GDP. Vaginismus is broken down into four groups. Primary, secondary, global, and local sources that you can trust.

First Vaginismus

People with this disease will have spasms for the rest of their lives. They start the first time they try to have sexual relations or put something like a tampon into their vagina. Some people may find it hard to go through a medical check.

A partner can't put anything in the vagina while they are having sex. They might say that the opening of the uterus feels like "hitting a wall." People may feel pain, heat, or muscle twitches all over their bodies. When the attempt to enter the uterus stops, the symptoms end.

Having Secondary Vaginismus

This happens after the person has already had the expected sexual function. Vaginismus has not always been there. It can occur at any age, and you may not have had it before.

This usually happens after a particular event, like getting an illness, going through menopause, having surgery, or giving birth.

Even if a doctor treats the underlying medical problem, the pain may still be there if the body is used to feeling that way. Vaginismus can also have psychological causes, like being hurt physically or emotionally or a mix of the two.

Global Vs Situational Vaginismus

Global vaginismus and situational vaginismus can be either primary or secondary. When the signs happen in response to any entry, this is called global vaginismus.

Situational vaginismus, on the other hand, means that the signs only happen when certain types of entry happen. Another example is that someone might not be able to have sex but can put in a tampon.

Women are said to have primary vaginismus if they have always felt pain during entry, even when they were teenagers trying to put in their first tampon. In this case, the fear of entry could be caused by not knowing enough about sexuality, being afraid of having sex, being fearful of getting pregnant, having been sexually abused, or seeing it happen to others.

How To Overcome Vaginismus?

Treatment may involve more than one expert, depending on what's wrong. The main goals of vaginismus treatment are to stop the muscles from automatically tightening, get rid of the fear of pain, and get rid of any other concerns that may be connected to the problem.

Desensitization Over Time

Progressive reduction is the primary way to treat vaginismus. This treatment makes a person slowly and gradually available for entry. To start, you might tell them to touch a spot as close to the opening of the uterus as you can without hurting them. They will get closer to the opening of the uterus every day.

Once they can touch the area around the vagina, they will be told to touch and open the labia, which are the lips around the vagina. Putting in a finger will be the next step.

Silicone Dilator

People will learn how to use a silicone dilator or a cone-shaped plug once they can do this without pain. After putting it in without any pain, it will be left in for 10 to 15 minutes so the muscles can get used to the pressure. They can then use a giant plug and show their partner how to put it in.

Once one is comfortable with it, the other person can put their penis close to the vagina but not inside it. Once both people are sure they are ready, the couple can try having sex again. Like with the insert, they might want to work up to this slowly.

As part of this treatment, you may learn how to relax, which can be especially helpful if the problem is mental, like worry.

Other Ways to Treat Vaginismus:

A doctor may also treat vaginismus in the following ways:


  • Kegel Exercises: Pelvic floor control exercises include Kegel exercises and other activities that contract and rest muscles in the pelvic floor to improve control of these muscles.
  • Education and Counselling: Teaching people about the sexual anatomy and the sexual response cycle can help them understand their pain and the changes their body is going through.
  • Botox: Research has shown that Botox may help with the signs of vaginismus. However, further studies are needed to confirm this finding.
  • Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF): This is a newer method of treating pain, often used for nerves. Few studies have shown that this treatment may help people recover.


Conclusion

When there is a problem with the vagina that looks like the signs of vaginismus, surgery may be needed. This happens very rarely.

When someone has vaginismus, their treatment should focus on both physical and mental issues because the reasons can be very different. A person may need to see a therapist or doctor, who may suggest medicines that can help with mental health problems.