Nowadays, it is fairly normal to talk about erectile dysfunction and solutions like Viagra. In fact, men seem to completely have put their male pride aside to a point where even sportsmen and celebrities endorse the drug publicly.
However, there is still pressure for women to perform, and a lot of them remain ashamed of not being able to do so and unaware that there is a very real cause for that to happen.
A significant portion of the world’s female population has never been able to have an orgasm during sexual intercourse. They suffer through the pain of having sex without pleasure and often are hiding a serious emotional toll that takes on their lives.
Most of these women have never heard of vaginismus, and some of them likely never will, as the condition is rarely recognized and researched, even by female physicians. It is a very real and serious condition though.
Vaginismus is a physical condition which has the woman’s pelvic floor muscles contracting drastically and painfully in rejection of any foreign object that is inserted into their vagina – even something as small and benign as a regular menstrual tampon. In some cases, the reaction can be so violent and extreme that even larger muscle groups like the stomach and thighs also contract along with the vaginal muscles.
There are several different possible causes for vaginismus and every case is truly unique. It can be linked to social pressure or anxiety, but it can also be related to a traumatic experience, whether it is sexual abuse or something else. It is the emotional aspect that makes it hard to determine the cause of the condition and also leads some practitioners to deny its existence.
On a physical level though, vaginismus can easily be recognized and diagnosed by a gynecologist or even a physiotherapist. They can perform an exam to determine if and which muscles contract and in what situations.
Vaginismus is treated through combined physical and emotional therapy, particularly when it is possible to determine that the cause is related to trauma. The physical therapy – progressive desensitization – can be done with the help of a specialist or at home through Kegel exercises, which are meant to train the muscles in relaxation until women are able to start inserting objects into their vaginas and eventually try having sexual penetration with a vibrator or a partner.
Sexual stimulants can also be used to help the woman relax and find her libido, especially through her first experiences during and after treatment.
