Vaginismus: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment For The Condition Affecting Millions Worldwide
“I have something called vaginismus. My vagina’s like a Venus flytrap.”
Lily’s frustrated admission in the final episode of Sex Education will be all too familiar for many viewers of the Netflix show. Vaginismus – where the muscles around the vagina tighten when penetration is attempted – is thought to affect millions of people worldwide.
It’s not that Lily doesn’t want to have sex, but it feels as though her body has other ideas. While the condition is often associated with pain during sex, it can also become a problem when inserting tampons or undergoing gynaecological and pelvic examinations.
“It can disrupt or completely stop your sex life, and can lead to distress, a loss of confidence and relationship problems,” Aly Dilks, clinical director at The Women’s Health Clinic, tells HuffPost UK. “It may even prevent you from starting a family.”
What are the symptoms of vaginismus?
The NHS states that the main symptom is tightening of the vagina, which can make penetration difficult or even impossible.
It can affect women in different ways. “Some women are unable to insert anything into their vagina because it closes up completely, while others can insert a tampon but are unable to have penetrative sex,” explains Dilks.
“Other women are able to have sex but find it very painful.”
Other symptoms can include: burning or stinging when the vagina is penetrated, an intense fear of penetration and pain which makes you avoid sex, and loss of sexual desire if penetration is attempted.
What causes it?
While it’s not fully understood why the condition happens, factors which can play a part in its development include:
:: thinking the vagina is too small
:: negative sexual thoughts (such as thinking sex will be painful)
:: previous sexual abuse
:: damage to the vagina
:: painful conditions of the vagina and surrounding area (for example, vulvodynia)
:: painful first intercourse
:: relationship problems
:: fear of pregnancy.
