Symptoms of Vaginismus
Have you ever experienced “hitting a wall” while trying to insert a finger, tampon, speculum, or penis into your vagina?
Have you ever been told by your doctor that you just need to have some wine and relax so that you can have sex?
Are you frustrated that even though you want to insert something into the vagina, your body is giving you a hard “no!”?
Girl, is this the place for you!
That “hitting a wall” sensation that many women experience is the most commonly reported symptom of Vaginismus. Vaginismus is defined as the involuntary spasm of the outer third layer of the pelvic floor muscles during attempted vaginal penetration. Meaning that feeling of “hitting a wall” when you try to insert something is REAL and is due to the tensing or tightening of the pelvic floor muscles.
Despite how common vaginismus is (somewhere between 5-17% report experiencing vaginismus, but the number is probably actually higher due to underreporting), it actually isn’t completely understood why the automatic tensing happens. There are some good running hypotheses on what may lead to vaginismus which includes:
Childbirth
Other medical conditions such as endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis, or previous infection Previous painful or traumatic sexual experiences that may cause fear and anxiety of experiencing pain again Previous painful or traumatic pelvic exam Abuse or trauma Negative feelings or beliefs towards sexual experiences or female genitalia that may stem from self, family, cultural, or religious beliefs
How do any of these experiences lead to the automatic tensing of the pelvic floor muscles? Our pelvic floor muscles receive about 30% of its innervation from our autonomic nervous system which includes the “fight or flight” and “rest and digest” nerves. This means that the pelvic floor muscles are partially controlled by our emotions. So you do experience a threat, your pelvic floor muscles react and tense up. Think of when a dog tucks its tail under because it is afraid or nervous. Essentially, it is the same in humans where you tuck your tail under (although, obviously our tailbones are way smaller) and your pelvic floor muscles tighten up.
This becomes a problem when there isn’t really a threat. Our bodies hold onto memories of that previous negative experience and this can lead to protective muscle guarding. The good news is that our bodies are adaptable and can learn to neutralize the threat so that your body doesn’t close up during intimate moments, menstrual care, or pelvic exams.
In other words, Vaginismus is very treatable! Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy (PFPT) is a key component in treating Vaginismus, but treatment outcomes are significantly enhanced when it is done with a multidisciplinary approach including psychotherapy to address both the physical and emotional issues.
Have other questions about Vaginismus or ready to get started? Give us a call and let us help you in your healing journey!
Written by Chicago Pelvic's Own: Dr Rebekah Wolinetz, PT, DPT, WCS, PRPC, Cert-DN. Find all of our account here at Linktree.
