Vaginismus - Vaginal Pain During Intercourse
Help with Female Vaginal Problems - Sexual Discomfort and Pain
Sep 22, 2009
Vaginismus is a physical and psychological condition that causes vaginal pain during intercourse. It is a little understood condition in the medical community. Often when a woman seeks vaginismus help she is told to simply keep trying, relax, use more lubricant, or drink alcohol before attempting intercourse. These suggestions usually don’t work and give the woman no information as to what her problem actually is.
Vaginal Pain During Intercourse
There are many medical conditions which can cause vaginal discomfort during penetration. One such condition is vaginismus. Vaginismus is a condition that begins as a psychological fear response which causes the muscles around the vaginal canal to spasm, causing penetration to be painful or even impossible.
Symptoms can range from light discomfort to being completely unable to insert anything into the vagina. This condition usually begins when a woman first begins menstruating and attempts to insert tampons. Generally, this attempt leads to pain and stops future attempts.
When penetration is met with pain, this discomfort reinforces the muscle spasm response. The muscles are sent a message that anything going into the vagina is painful and should be avoided and so they tense up in anticipation of that pain. Each future attempt causes further discomfort and reinforces the muscle spasms, only causing more pain at future attempts.
Vaginismus Help
This is a very treatable condition with proper knowledge and perseverance. The first step is to confront the psychological fears that were causing the condition in the first place. This can be done with the help of a professional sex therapist or at home using books to help guide the woman through the process.
Some of the common fears that lead to this condition are:
- Past sexual trauma or abuse
- Strong religious upbringing/Being taught that sex was bad
- Fear that first time penetration would be painful
- Vaginal problems or infections/Childbirth
There are many other fears and anxieties that can cause or affect vaginismus. The list above contains a few of the more common problems.
Part of the process will involve learning more about vaginal anatomy and understanding the sexual process. Education is a big part of vaginismus treatment.
In addition to dealing with the psychological issues, the physical muscle spasms will also need to be dealt with. Practicing Kegal exercises and using vaginal dilators will help retrain the muscles. Instead of tensing up with the prospect of intercourse, the idea is for the woman to gain control over her muscles to be able to consciously relax them.
Vaginismus is considered an uncommon condition as even the number of women suffering from this problem is unknown. Because of fear and embarrassment women rarely seek help. However, for women suffering from this condition there are many options available. Dealing with the problems and overcoming the psychological barriers will help a woman learn to take control over her own body. Education and practice will help women learn to love, accept, and enjoy their bodies.
Sources and Further Reading:
Google Health - Vaginismus
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