VAGINISMUS

There is a sexual health disorder that is called vaginismus.

What is vaginismus?

Vaginismus is an involuntary spasm of the muscles surrounding the vagina that closes it. This condition makes penetration of penis or gynecologic checkup painful, difficult and sometimes even impossible.
Vaginismus is possible in women of any age and its severity varies from woman to woman.
According to some data about 2-3 per cent of women suffer from vaginismus.

Why does vaginismus occur?

Usually the causes of vaginismus are psychological ones (true vaginismus). It can be a partners aggressive behaviour while defloration (depriving of virginity), or on the contrary, if he was not energetic and persistent enough. Nervous women, women who had psychic trauma on the first days of their sexual life and those who have been violated are more likely to have vaginismus. Such women have a negative attitude towards sex. Sometimes vaginismus can occur as a mean of protection from an undesired sex partner.
False vaginismus can be caused by some physiologic factors: thick hymen (virginal membrane), dryness of the entrance to vagina, vaginal inflammatory diseases.

What happens?

Usually vaginism occurs together with the beginning of sex life. Involuntary spasm of the muscles is preceeded by fear of pain during defloratioon. However, in some cases it occurs unexpectedly.
There are three types of vaginismus severity
1 type the spasm happens while penetration of penis into vagina or during gynecologic examination
2 type the spasm happens when someone just touches a womans genitalies or when she expects such a touching
3 type- the spasm happens when a woman imagines intercourse or ginecologic examination

How can vaginismus be revealed?

A woman can be supposed to have vaginismus if she has difficulties with using tampons. But the final diagnosis can be made only by a specialist afther a thorough examination. A doctor must examine the pacient in order to exclude physiological causes of vaginismus.

How to get rid of vaginismus?

Treatment of vaginismus includes psychotherapy with correction of wrong idea that defloration is painful and harmful. Also there can be treatment of genitals inflammation.
However, such a treatment is effective only if the main cause of the disease is embarrassement and lack of sexual desire. A true vaginismus can be treated only with help of psychotheraphy.
It is recommended to use plastic dilators when doing vaginal dilation exercises. This should be done under the direction of a sex therapist and treatment must involve the partner. This treatment should gradually include more intimate contact, ultimately resulting in intercourse.
Educational treatment, including information about sexual health and anatomy, physiology cycle and common myths about sex, should be provided as well.