Sex can be uncomfortable, cause discomfort, or even pain. In fact, nearly three out of four women will experience painful penetrative sex at some point in their lives. Whether due to lack of desire, a gynecological condition, or even as a side effect of the medication, the issue is usually temporary and resolves with either time or minor interventions. However, there are some who experience long-term difficulty, not just with penetrative sex, but also with tampon utilization, or vaginal insertion of any kind. The issue can be compounded due to growing anxiety concerning penetration that may even prevent it outright. So, how do you know if you have vaginismus, and what can be done about it?
What Is Vaginismus?
Vaginismus is an involuntary tightening of the vagina that makes penetration incredibly difficult if not impossible. A common description amongst sufferers of vaginismus when describing an attempt at insertion is it is “like hitting a wall”. It can have a psychological source, such as past trauma or anxiety disorders, or physical causes, such as hormonal changes or medications.
Again, the key distinguisher between vaginismus and generalized tightening or difficulty with vaginal insertion is that vaginismus can happen even in non-sexual settings; for example, medical examinations. Sometimes a cause can be identified and sometimes the cause is unknown. In either case, a prolonged period of involuntary vaginal muscle spasms making penetration of any kind impossible out of sex, probably means you may have vaginismus.
What Can I Do If I Have Vaginismus?
- Stop Having Painful Sex
-
-
- There is no need to continue to engage in something that hurts.
-
- Talk To A Professional
-
-
- There are numerous trained specialists who are capable of diagnosing and coming up with a treatment plan!
-
- Follow A Treatment Plan
-
- Vaginismus has a great response rate to treatment.
Can My Vaginismus Improve?
Yes! In fact, a study conducted in a clinical setting found 71% of vaginismus patients reported pain-free sex after just five weeks of treatment. This number may be even higher for those who choose to include Botox pelvic floor injections with the typical psychological and physical therapies. The botox procedure is quick and when the dilator protocol is closely followed, even patients who have been unresponsive to the behavioral and physical therapies can acheive pain-free sex!
What Can I Do Now About My Vaginismus?
Call us! We’re happy to answer your questions and bring our team’s decades-long experience, earned through thousands of surgeries and thousands of hours of work, to your particular case. To experience our gold standard compassionate care, call the Women’s Institute of Dallas at 214-442-0055!