Vaginismus

Medical Service Name: Vaginismus

Vaginismus is a condition marked by pelvic floor muscle spasms. It can make sexual intercourse painful, challenging, or unattainable. You may also experience undergoing gynecological tests and tampon insertion stressful, hard, or impossible. When you attempt to insert an external object into the vagina, like a tampon, or speculum, it stiffens due to an unavoidable shrinkage of the pelvic floor muscles. This causes widespread muscle spasms, pain, and a transitory interruption of breathing. There are two types of vaginismus that affect women of different ages:

Primary vaginismus – This is when a woman experiences pain every time anything enters her vagina, or when she is unable to put anything into her vagina. It is also known as lifelong vaginismus.

Secondary vaginismus – This occurs when a woman has previously had intercourse without experiencing pain, but now finds it difficult or impossible to do so. It’s also known as acquired vaginismus. This may happen possibly as a result of gynecologic surgery, injuries, or radiation.

Following menopause, some women experience vaginismus. With the decline in estrogen levels, vaginal lubrication and elasticity decrease, making intercourse painful, difficult, or inconceivable.

There is no known cause of vaginismus. Past injuries, sexual problems, or psychological conditions have all been linked to the disorder. Bladder infections, urinary tract infections, and fungal infections can aggravate vaginismus pain.

Possible Causes

It’s hard to know the exact reason of vaginismus, but in most of the cases, it’s connected to the anxiety or fear of having sex. Other vagina related health problems like infections, and dryness can also make the intercourse painful.

Risk Factor

Vaginismus brings a lot of complications. It makes the women sexually unsatisfied, and it can also cause difficulty in getting pregnant. So, it can bring emotional and psychological distress, mental stress, depression, infertility, and relationship issues.

Sign & Symptoms

The main symptom of vaginismus is inadvertent constriction of the vaginal muscles, but the intensity of the condition differs between women. In all cases, vaginal compression makes penetration incredibly difficult. Additional symptoms of vaginismus include fear of vaginal intercourse and reduced sexual desire as a result of permeation. Whenever something is inserted into the vagina, females with vaginismus frequently report a burning or prickling sensation.

These symptoms are unintended, which means a woman cannot control them unless she receives treatment. It is essential for a woman to visit a gynecologist on a regular basis to discuss any health issues and avoid complications.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of vaginismus needs consultation with a qualified gynecologist or fertility specialist. The doctor can perform pelvic examination for diagnosing vaginismus based on the symptoms. The diagnosis process can also include inserting the finger inside the vagina to the point patient is able to bear it.

Treatment Options at 7DMC

We offer comprehensive, considerate, cutting-edge care to women with a wide range of gynecological issues. We have a thorough knowledge of women’s distinctive health and wellness requirements, and we have assembled a competent team of medical professionals to meet those needs.

Dr. Radwa El Nozahy, our specialist Obstetrician and Gynecologist, specializes in cosmetic gynecology and hormonal issues. She is well-known for her compassionate, patient-centered approach, which she uses to support all of her patients. Her extensive medical knowledge, holistic view, and gynecological background distinguish her as a one-of-a-kind medical expert.

Our doctor may take your health information and perform a pelvic examination to assess vaginismus. Before putting the focus on vaginismus, any underlying factors, such as an infectious disease, may need to be eliminated or treated. The line of therapy will be to lessen the instantaneous toughening of the muscles and the anxiety, as well as to address any other types of worry that may be associated with the issue.

Treatment typically consists of a combination of pelvic floor control exercises, education, counseling, reducing sensitivity to insertion, insertion or dilation training, and emotional exercises. The amount of time it takes to effectively treat vaginismus will vary from individual to individual. Surgery for vaginismus is extremely uncommon.

Women with vaginismus can learn to handle and relax muscles around their vagina by doing exercises at home. This is known as progressive desensitization, and the goal is to become accustomed to insertion. Anyone who is worried about vaginismus symptoms should consult our skilled doctors for an assessment.