Signs Of Ovulation Ovulation, Pregnancy, and Women's Reproductive Health

Many young women have asked the question, what exactly is vaginismus? Vaginismus, also known as Vaginism, has become some sort of an urban legend in most countries. You may have heard of those tales about how a man and a woman got trapped while having sexual relations and they could not get out of that compromising position because muscle spasm would not allow them to pull away from each other.

While there is actually no truth to these tales, there is a medical condition similar to the symptoms exhibited by the male and female figures in these tales and it is known in medical circles as Vaginismus. The reason why this condition has become such a favorite naughty tale is because it is uncommon, with only two percent of American women affected by this malady.

All the controversy surrounding Vaginismus should not however come as a surprise since this condition is characterized by the firm clamping of a woman’s muscles. When this happens during sexual intercourse the vagina’s tightness locks the two organs firmly and inseparably.

Women who suffer from Vaginismus are usually caught by surprise because Vaginismus can occur without any reason at all.

While the clamping part is true, it is not caused by any potion at all as some people would like to believe, but by the involuntary contractions of the surrounding pelvic muscles and the medical world prefers to call it Vaginismus. What makes this condition more difficult is the woman’s lack of control of what is happening down there. She may not even be aware that the tightness of her muscle is causing the problem.

Vaginismus does not however happen only during sexual intercourse because in most cases, it can also make penetration difficult or even impossible. When this happens, the vagina is literally closed off to the penis. But in case sexual intercourse is possible, the vagina is subjected to a stinging and burning sensation.

Causes and Types of Vaginismus

Women who suffer from Vaginismus are usually caught by surprise because Vaginismus can occur without any reason at all. It seems that the tightening of the vagina itself happens in anticipation of the pain of sexual intercourse.

The condition is classified as primary when a woman has never previously experienced painless intercourse. Primary vaginismus typically signifies the experience of vaginismus with ‘first-time’ intercourse attempts. A woman who has previously experienced sexual relations before without pain, but who suddenly develops the condition, is said to be suffering from Secondary Vaginismus.

The condition can be caused by psychological factors including fear of pregnancy, fear of the pain of intercourse, stress emotional trauma or fear of tissue damage. It can also be caused by physical factors like childbirth trauma, menopause, sexually transmitted disease or yeast infection. What makes this condition more perplexing is that it can occur for no reason at all.

In some cases, Vaginismus can occur due to lack of lubrication or foreplay during sexual intercourse. But once it is triggered, the woman does not have any control over the condition any longer, and can result in a lack of interest in sex in the long run.

It is important to know the real cause of Vaginismus in order to succeed in treating the condition. Simply said, the treatment for the condition will depend on the reason why the woman developed such condition. Each case is different and there is no guarantee that the treatment that works for one will work in the next case.

Also see: Vulvodynia