A spasm of the muscles surrounding the entry of the vagina, preventing entry of the penis (or an inanimate object). This can be treated by counselling, which includes educational explanation concerning sexual intercourse, combined with the use of behavioural techniques which are successful in most cases.
VaginismusClassifications and external resources
| ICD-10 | N94.2 |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 625.1 |
Vaginismus is a condition which affects a woman's ability to have sexual intercourse, insert tampons and undergo gynaecological examinations. The severity of vaginismus varies from woman to woman.
It is important to remember that the woman does not choose for this to happen; Vaginismus can be compared to the response of the eye shutting when an object comes towards it. A woman with vaginismus learns to expect pain to come with penetration and so her mind automatically sends a signal to her PC muscles to clamp shut, thus making penetration either impossible or very painful. For example, if a teenage girl is told that the first time she has sex it will be very painful, she may develop vaginismus because she expects pain. If she then attempts to have sexual intercourse, her muscles will spasm and clamp shut which will make sex painful. This is why it is important that if a woman suspects she has vaginismus, she stops attempting to have sexual intercourse. This does not mean women with vaginismus cannot partake in other sexual activities, as long as penetration is avoided.
There is no one reason that a woman may have vaginismus and in fact, there are a variety of factors that can contribute. Some examples of causes of vaginimus include sexual abuse, strict religious upbringing, being taught that sex is dirty or wrong or simply the fear of pain associated with penetration, and in particular, losing one’s virginity. These are just some of the reported reasons behind vaginismus and there are many more. It is a very personal condition and so each case must be looked at individually as causes and treatment cannot be generalised to all women with vaginismus.
Most women who suffer from vaginismus do not realise they have it until they try to insert a tampon or have sex for the first time and so it may come as quite a shock to them.
Primary vaginismus
Primary vaginismus occurs when a woman has never been able to have sexual intercourse or achieve any other kind of penetration. It is commonly discovered in teenagers and women in their early twenties as this is when the majority of women will attempt to use tampons, have sexual intercourse or complete a pap smear for the first time. It can often be very confusing for a woman when she discovers she has vaginismus as we are led to believe that sex is something that comes naturally to us.
Secondary vaginismus
Secondary vaginismus occurs when a woman who has previously been able to achieve penetration, acquires vaginismus for one reason or another. The treatment for secondary vaginismus is the same as for primary vaginismus but in many cases the knowledge that you can have sex and have previously achieved penetration can aid treatment and speed the process up a little.
Treatment
Psychological treatment
The cause of vaginismus is often psychological or related to trauma, though this is not always the case.
Many people -- even some professionals -- are not aware of the emotional difficulties associated with vaginismus, which can include low self-esteem, fears, and depression. If a woman chooses to seek the help of a professional, she should work with someone who is very understanding, and who has previous experience with and sensitivity towards women who experience vaginismus.
Physical treatment
Physical treatment of the internal spasms is another part of treatment.
Masturbation
It is important to realize that most women who do not have vaginismus usually do experience pain or discomfort if they insert objects into their vagina without prior sexual arousal. As many women who experience vaginismus have trouble achieving sexual arousal, self-exploration of the vaginal area through masturbation is a very good way to address vaginismus.
One of the problems that can come with vaginismus is that a woman may be fearful to engage in sexual activity, due to the fear of pain with any kind of vaginal penetration. As a woman becomes more aware of her individual sexual response, she can learn which sensations are best for bringing her to a state of arousal.
The process of addressing vaginismus requires time, patience, and a focused intention to heal.
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