What Is Vaginismus?

Vaginal spasm refers to the involuntary and continuous contraction of the vaginal and pelvic floor muscles during sexual intercourse, making it impossible to insert an erect penis, or although it can be inserted, pain or discomfort occurs in the vaginal opening or deep during or after intercourse . Causes of vaginal spasm are related to psychological factors. Most patients suffer from a lack of sexual knowledge, extreme fear and anxiety about sexual intercourse, and women who have experienced sexual violence or have a history of traumatic vulva and vagina. The disagreement between husband and wife also affects the dissatisfaction of the spouse.

Basic Information

nickname

Sexual phobia

English name

vaginismus

Visiting department

Obstetrics and Gynecology, Psychology

Multiple groups

Newlywed women

Common causes

Psychological and psychological factors, improper posture, style, etc., lack of preparation before intercourse, vaginal organic lesions, etc.

Common symptoms

Pain and discomfort in or deep into the vagina during or after intercourse

Causes of vaginal spasm

Most vaginal spasms are psychophysiological syndromes, which are a type of dysfunction in women, which can occur in women of any age. The factors that cause vaginal spasm during sexual intercourse are generally the following:

Psychological factors

This is the most common. Women lack proper understanding of sexual life, are over-stressed, or have a strong fear of puncturing the hymen, fear of sexual intercourse, fear of foreign objects hitting the vagina, and fear of pregnancy. The husband and wife have long been at odds, and the wife is very disgusted with sex life. The patient regards sexual intercourse as a kind of dirty, sinful and shameful behavior, or has a history of severe sexual life during childhood. In the past, severe trauma was caused by forced or violent rape, and vaginal spasm was also prone to occur.

2. Improper posture, manner, etc.

Improper posture, excessive pressure on the anterior vaginal wall, especially the urethra, can cause pain and cause vaginal spasm. This kind of situation happens repeatedly, which may cause the mental and psychological pathological development of women, so that vaginal muscle spasm during sexual intercourse occurs.

3. Lack of preparation before the intercourse

The vaginal opening is dry, and the man's movements are irritable and rough, causing pain. The man in the same room did not sufficiently stimulate the woman's sexually sensitive area and forced sexual intercourse. During the intercourse, the man acted too recklessly and rudely, which caused the woman to have vaginal spasms due to aversion and fear.

4. Organic lesions of the vagina

Female genital infections, such as cervicitis, vaginitis, local inflammation, deformities, tumors, etc., can also induce vaginal spasm, which is rare.

5. Other

The hymen is abnormal, such as the hymen is tight, lacks tension, or the entrance is too small. The hymen has been traumatized, infected or cracked. The hymen is tough, and the hymen ruptures during first marriage and is too painful, causing vaginal reflexes and defensive spasms. Congenital stenosis of the vagina and scars of vaginal surgery. After perineal reorganization or perineal incision, scarring is left, causing the vaginal entrance to be tight and smaller.

Clinical manifestations of vaginal spasm

Vaginal spasm can be a protective activity caused by organic lesions of the vulva or vagina. Due to the conditioned reflex caused by repeated pain, vaginal spasms persist even if the primary lesion has disappeared or cured. Those with mild symptoms can barely share the same room, but both men and women feel discomfort, and the woman feels pain; in severe cases, the penis cannot be inserted into the vagina and cannot have sex. Most vaginal spasms occur in a woman's wedding, but can also occur in women who have been married for many years.

The spasm area is limited to the muscles around the vaginal opening, and sometimes it shows the tightening of all the vaginal muscles, resulting in paresthesia of the vulva, the inner thighs and the lower abdomen. Any stimulation to these parts will aggravate the vaginal spasms.

Vaginospasm diagnosis

Learn more about the spouse's marriage, sexual life history, and social and psychological background, analyze the causes of spasm, and rule out organic diseases. Any involuntary and persistent spastic contraction of the vagina before or during sexual intercourse can be diagnosed. Vaginismus can be divided into four levels.

Grade I: Vaginal spasms occur under certain conditions. For example, caressing time is too short before sexual intercourse, rough sexual intercourse, or unsafe environment during sexual intercourse. The muscles that cause vaginal spasm are limited to the muscles of the perineum and the levator muscles.

Grade : The muscles that have spasms are not limited to the perineal muscles, and spread to the entire pelvic muscle group. Or vaginal spasm can occur in a variety of situations, can not have intercourse.

Grade III: During vaginal spasm, not only does the pelvic muscles spasm, but the entire hips are involuntarily lifted. Frequent, spastic contractions of hip muscles occur. Frequent cramps in the gluteal muscles prevent sexual intercourse.

Level : When spasm occurs, not only the buttock muscle group is spasmodically contracted, buttocks are involuntarily lifted up. The patient's legs are adducted and the entire body is retreated back as much as possible, yelling, and a panic reaction occurs. This is not a result of actual sexual intercourse or gynecological examinations, but a response to the approach and hunch of the sexual partner or examiner. A panic reaction occurs whenever sexual activity or examination is anticipated.

Vaginismus treatment

On the basis of clear diagnosis and identification of the cause, necessary sexual knowledge education and psychological treatment are given, and vaginal dilatation treatment is feasible when necessary.

If it is caused by malformations or lesions of the reproductive organs, after treatment and improvement, vaginal spasm can be relieved. If vaginal spasm is caused by psychological factors or improper sexual intercourse, the couple should learn sexual knowledge, if necessary, with the assistance of a doctor Undergo vaginal dilation treatment.

Vaginal dilatation treatment is to confirm the vaginal capacity and increase confidence. Vaginal dilatation treatment can be demonstrated by a doctor first. First let the patient do the pelvic muscle tightening-relaxation exercise. During the relaxation, the doctor gently inserts a lubricating spreader or fingers with disinfected gloves into the vagina. After the patient has mastered, the dilator can be assisted by himself or with her husband, 3 to 4 times a day, 10 to 15 minutes each time. Increase the number of the dilator daily until the dilator reaches No. 4 (the diameter of No. 4 dilator is similar to the diameter of the penis) ) Or when both fingers can enter the vagina without feeling pain, the couple can start experimenting with sex.