What Is Vaginismus?

The topic of women's health is something many individuals feel uncomfortable discussing, and unfortunately, this lack of recognition can leave many women suffering. Though there is little awareness about it, vaginismus is a condition affecting thousands of women. This frequently misunderstood condition can be extremely disruptive, and unfortunately, treatment is not always straightforward. Many doctors still are not sure whether it is caused by mental concerns or medical problems. It is essential to raise awareness about vaginismus, so women with the condition can get diagnosed and learn methods for dealing with it. Without treatment, vaginismus can cause a lifetime of discomfort and even result in infertility.

What Is It Exactly?

At its most basic level, vaginismus is simply a sensation of pain and tightness whenever anything enters the vagina. When we get farther into the definition, it turns out vaginismus is an involuntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles. Vaginismus typically affects the pubococcygeus muscle group, but it can occur in other types of muscles in the area. In the average woman, these muscles can tighten, but they instinctively relax in most situations that require access to the vagina. For women who have vaginismus, these muscles clamp tightly together whenever anything is about to enter the vagina. Women with vaginismus may not be able to have sex, use tampons, or undergo a gynecological exam.

So what are the symptoms? Keep reading to find out.

Symptoms

Not everyone who has vaginismus experiences it in the same way. The only unified symptom is abnormal tightness of the vaginal muscles whenever something tries to enter the vagina. For many women, the tightness is so severe partners describe it as feeling like they have encountered a wall. The tightness tends to cause an unpleasant sensation, ranging from generalized discomfort to severe pain. Some women describe it as a burning or stinging sensation. The pain can be so sudden and severe that some women suffering from vaginismus temporarily stop breathing. Depending on what type of vaginismus a woman has, the pain and tightness can be triggered by any object, or it may not happen in certain situations like a tampon insertion. Some women may begin to anticipate and worry about a bout of vaginismus, causing symptoms to trigger before anything even enters the vagina.

Continue reading to reveal the major causes of this condition now.