Couldn't get in? Be careful, you have vaginism.
Some women experience pain during sexual intercourse or discomfort when inserting a tampon or anything else into the vagina. Some consider this normal; however, pain can be a precursor to illness. Vaginismus is a condition characterized by painful muscle contractions when attempting to engage with this area. The pain can vary, and sensations may include a burning and tingling feeling. This condition deteriorates the quality of life, as women cannot control the painful sensations in any situation. The source of the illness is fear of sex or interaction with the genitals.
A woman may feel arousal and desire to have sex, but fears experiencing pain, which worsens her sexual life. There are no exact figures on the number of women suffering from vaginismus, as not all patients are aware of their diagnosis. However, based on official sources, up to half of the female population may suffer from this condition. There are two types of conditions and diseases. Primary vaginismus appears even before the first sexual experience; during this, the affected woman feels pain and spasms, but these cease after interaction with the genital area. This stage is treated with the help of a psychologist. Secondary vaginismus develops due to trauma from surgery, childbirth, etc.
In this case, a gynecological examination is necessary to rule out other diseases that cause pain. However, there is also what is called "situational vaginismus," where pain and discomfort arise only during sex, but not during a gynecological examination. Identifying vaginismus is difficult; there are no tests for diagnosis, and each case is unique. If a woman experiences pain during sex and examination by a doctor, she is certainly affected. Vaginismus has several sources: 1. Psychological. Vaginismus can develop due to misinformation about women's bodies, the establishment of stigma around sex during childhood, fear induced by stories of painful sex, as well as discomfort during intercourse.
Coitus. 2. Physical vaginismus can be the result of physical diseases, rather than psychological issues. Starting from vulvar dermatosis and ending with vaginal trauma. All of this can be a source of disease, and constant pain can lead to the woman fearing spasms even before sex, which causes muscle contractions as a protective response. Vaginismus is treated with the help of several specialists. The gynecologist's actions include ruling out physical diseases and informing the patient about special pelvic exercises. Consultations with a psychologist should also be conducted to identify and address the cause of fear, and during treatment, special instruments may be used to enlarge the vagina.
However, women often encounter unscrupulous doctors. The main red flag when choosing a specialist is humiliation and comparisons to other patients who are capable of 'full' sexual contact. To prevent the development of vaginismus, it is necessary to:
1. Conduct conversations with women. To enlighten the population on the topic of sex and not to make it taboo.
2. To pay more attention to the traumatic factors in sexual life. Thus, there is no need to fear or be ashamed of vaginismus.
3. If a woman feels pain or discomfort, she should immediately consult a specialist, preferably multiple specialists.
