Our Doctors of Physical Therapy will develop a customized treatment plan for you in a private setting. Vaginismus is an involuntary contraction or spasm of the vaginal muscles pelvic floor muscles.
Depending on the severity of closure, it can cause pain or difficulty with attempted penetration during intercourse, tampon insertion or during gynecological exams. This condition sometimes begins when women are in their teens or early twenties, when they first attempt to use a tampon or have sexual intercourse. However, it can develop later in life after a period of normal sexual function. The main causes of Vaginismus can be attributed to both physical conditions and non-physical triggers.
Physical Causes — Post child birth, menopause and hormonal changes, frequent UITs, yeast infections, history of abuse, post pelvic surgery. The physical and and emotional causes of Vaginismus can be categorized into two main types:. There is also a severe difficulty or inability inserting tampons or undergoing a standard gynecological exam.
Secondary Vaginismus — An unexplained, ongoing sexual pain and discomfort even though there is a previous history of normal intercourse. Usually, this type of Vaginismus is triggered by a singular event or an emotional anxiety. Since Vaginismus results from spasm of the pelvic floor muscles, pelvic floor physical therapy is considered an optimal treatment option. To begin, education about the role of the pelvic floor muscles and how to control them is crucial in treating Vaginismus.
We also utilize vaginal dilators and therapeutic exercise to decrease muscle spasms. Progressive use of vaginal dilators in conjunction with targeted diaphragmatic breathing is also recommended.
