How To Effectively Treat Vaginismus

Physical

The physical symptoms must be treated as well, and one of the tools a patient's counselor or doctor might recommend is a vaginal dilator. These tools should be used with a professional's supervision. The patient will place the dilators inside their vagina. These cone-shaped dilators progressively become bigger, and this process allows the vaginal muscles to stretch and increase their flexibility. For better intimacy prospects, a patient might have their partner help with insertion. After the woman completes treatment using the dilators, they might attempt intercourse with their partner again. Kegel exercises are also helpful for the physical component. To engage in Kegel exercises, you must repeatedly relax and tighten the muscles in your pelvic floor. These muscles control your bladder, rectum, and vagina.

Continue reading to learn about neuromodulators next.

Neuromodulators

Neuromodulators are medications and chemical therapies that assist in treatment. In some circles, Botox has been considered for treatment. The concept is a Botox injection will temporarily reduce the rate of hypertonicity found in the pelvic floor muscles, but to date, no controlled trials have been completed regarding this treatment. However, experimental studies have been done using small sample sizes, and these studies show the process is effective. Patients who used Botox had positive results throughout ten months of treatment. Another experimental option is lidocaine, which is applied and used in the same manner as Botox. When the condition is partially or fully psychologically-based, patients will often take antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, which are prescribed for use as part of a comprehensive psychotherapy treatment plan, typically including counseling and therapy. Even if the condition itself is not psychologically-based, some patients experience high anxiety levels because of the condition, and anti-anxiety medications can help with this. There are no consistent studies showing results regarding these methods.

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