What is Vaginismus?

Tension in the vaginal muscles causes vaginismus. If vagina tightens during intercourse and your partner is unable to penetrate. This can be a condition called Vaginismus. Vagina is surrounded by muscles so its opening is often constricted due to this insertion of a speculum in a pelvic exam or penetration during sex is uncomfortable or even impossible. Women with vaginismus usually have ache in the genital, vaginal or pelvic area, and they fear penetration and intercourse.

Symptoms of Vaginismus

Muscle spasms during vaginal penetration, Vaginal muscle spasms when starting sexual activity, vaginal muscle spasms on pelvic examination and impossible sexual penetration are the few main symptoms of Vaginismus

Causes of Vaginismus

Vaginismus is caused due to many factors which can be either psychological or physiological there is no one reason for the cause of vaginismus.

Some of the causes of Vaginismus :-
Fear of sex: - due to sexual abuse, rape or other trauma. Negative attitude to sex :- due to strict religious upbringing
Traditional ideas about sex :- being taught that sex is dirty or wrong fear of pain Associated with penetration:- Fear about penetration can create sexual anxiety, which in turn causes vagina to remain dry and unrelaxed before intercourse.
losing virginity:- As virginity is considered to be a virtue denoting purity and physical self-restraint. Insufficient arousal.
Unpleasant sexual experience

Diagnosis of Vaginismus

As vaginismus is not dependent upon any particular situation it is sometimes difficult to diagnose. Sometimes even after a gynecological exam the definite reasons for vaginismus is not been able to diagnosed.

One of the methods to diagnose vaginismus is by insertion of a speculum. Speculum is the instrument used to examine the interior of vagina by holding the walls of the vagina apart. the combination of a physical exam, gynecological history and sexual history of both partners is often needed to get an precise diagnosis.

Treatment for Vaginismus:-

1) Exercises to relax the vaginal muscles.
2) Muscle and breathing training and training to improve the thoughts about sexuality and own body.
3) Relaxation .
4) Treatment in which women is exposed to feared situation with as little fear as possible.
5) Use of dilators. Dilators are objects that the woman inserts at home, step by step, while she relaxes her pelvic floor muscles This way she becomes more familiar with her vagina and learns how to relax her pelvic floor muscles when something is inserted. Use of dilators is at home exercise which can be done individually or with her partners help by repeatedly practicing insertion (dilation) training.

Pain and discomfort are avoided completely throughout the treatment of Vaginismus.