Treating Vaginismus

Vaginismus is a painful condition in which the vaginal muscles spasm and seem to close or tighten when penetration of any kind is attempted. This can prevent not only intercourse and masturbation, but also the use of tampons, certain contraceptives, and can make gynecological exams a nightmare. Vaginismus is often a source of embarrassment, pain, and shame for those who suffer from it. It can be devastating to intimacy, as a significant other may wonder if they themselves are the reason for the lack of arousal. Sometimes the cause is prior abuse, other times the cause is simply anxiety or a "mental block".

Fortunately, there are a few treatments available that have shown positive results in vaginismus patients. This includes "dilators", which manually expand the vaginal canal, as well as calming techniques that decrease anxiety and can sometimes help the vaginal muscles relax. Counseling, sex therapy, medications, and even pelvic floor therapy can also be used. One other treatment that is fairly new but has shown promising results is the use of botox injections into the vaginal muscles. Performed under light anesthesia in less than an hour, the injections are followed by progressive dilations.

If you are struggling to cope with the difficulties of vaginismus, or you have tried other treatments for vaginismus to no avail, you might consider asking your doctor about newer treatments such as botox. Painful sex help is not something you have to seek out alone, and painful sex is not something you should struggle with alone.