Contents
What is vaginismus
Vaginismus in women is a pathology that manifests itself in the form of convulsive contraction of the muscles of the vagina and pelvis during intercourse or before it begins. In this case, a sharp spasm can occur at any time during sexual intercourse – even at the mere thought of sex. Also, muscle contractions can occur during a gynecological examination.
Women suffering from vaginismus describe its attack as a severe cramp that reduces the hips, and strong sharp contractions of the muscles of the perineum and abdominal wall. This condition is especially dangerous during intercourse, because the erect member of the sexual partner may be infringed, and then urgent medical care will be required, because the partners will not be able to separate on their own.
Causes of vaginismus in women
Vaginismus is not a gynecological but a psychosexual disorder. Most often, it is based on a traumatic factor that happened to a woman in childhood or adolescence. However, sometimes vaginismus can be the result of serious problems with women’s health – pelvic inflammatory disease, oncology, or anomalies in the structure of the genital tract. The main causes of vaginismus in women are:
- stress associated with painful or violent deprivation of virginity;
- unpleasant, rough, painful, violent experience of sexual relations;
- emotional overstrain of a woman;
- fear of sexual intercourse;
- psychological attitudes about sex as something shameful, unpleasant;
- infectious, inflammatory diseases of the small pelvis, tumors, anomalies of the structure, due to which sexual contact becomes painful and difficult;
- hidden homosexuality;
- mental disorders.
Symptoms of vaginismus in women
The main symptoms of vaginismus in a woman are involuntary, uncontrolled, very strong contraction, contraction of the muscles of the vagina, pelvic muscles during intercourse, when thinking about intercourse, before or during a gynecological examination. In some cases, a woman cannot even insert a tampon due to contractions. If, nevertheless, the partner managed to start sexual intercourse, the woman will feel pain and discomfort, and in the future will shy away from sex.
In total, there are three degrees of pathology: in the first degree, muscle contraction occurs directly during the introduction of the penis or gynecological instrument into the vagina during the examination. In the second degree of vaginismus, painful spasms occur only when an object is touched to the external genitalia of a woman. With the third, extreme, degree of vaginismus, muscle contraction occurs at the mere thought of sex or an upcoming examination by a doctor.
Treatment of vaginismus in women
Treatment of vaginismus in a woman is a long process, including classes with a sex therapist and a psychotherapist. A huge role is also given to the woman’s sexual partner, who must help her woman relax and not be afraid of anything.
Diagnostics
Initially, with the problem of vaginismus, a woman turns to a gynecologist who collects an anamnesis of the disease – when and how does pain and discomfort appear during intercourse, under what conditions and at what age did a woman begin sexual activity, did she undergo any gynecological operations or painful procedures . An examination (including ultrasound) is also carried out for the presence of infectious or inflammatory diseases of the small pelvis, the presence of tumors or anomalies in the structure of the genital tract. After that, the woman is sent for a consultation with a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, psychologist or sex therapist.
Therapies
The main methods of treating vaginismus in a woman are a course of psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and work with a sex therapist. Also, a woman should train her intimate muscles with Kegel exercises – alternating exercises for tension and relaxation of the muscles of the perineum. Also, a specialist can prescribe a course of massage and physiotherapy.
“Most modern types of psychotherapy are able to cope with vaginismus, but only psychoanalysis is depth psychology and reveals the roots of the problem,” the specialist emphasizes.
Prevention of vaginismus in women at home
As such, the prevention of vaginismus in women does not exist. To relax and control your body before or during intercourse, it is very useful for a woman to train her intimate muscles by doing Kegel exercises. Many patients note that after such training, they manage to stop the incipient muscle spasm.
It is also necessary to undergo preventive examinations with a doctor, timely treat infections, inflammations and other pathologies that can lead to pain and discomfort during sex.
The main prevention of vaginismus is the mental health of a woman, her openness. The problem is that often a woman does not have friends with whom she could discuss such a sensitive topic, as a result, terrible problems arise in the family, depression, panic attacks, phobias and other troubles, the psychoanalyst explains.
Popular questions and answers
Answers to popular questions about vaginismus in women MD, member of the European Confederation of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, psychoanalyst Marat Nurtdinov.