Quick answer
What is vaginismus?
Vaginismus is involuntary tightening of the vaginal muscles that makes penetration difficult or impossible. It is not deliberate and it is not a failure of will — the body has learned to brace and keeps bracing. It is treatable, with options ranging from cognitive behavioural therapy and gradual dilation through to botulinum toxin injection.
When the vaginal muscles involuntarily contract or spasm, making penetration difficult or impossible, that is vaginismus. It is more common than the silence around it suggests, and it is treatable.
What causes it
Several things, sometimes together. Lack of arousal, infection or chronic pain are all associated with it. So are anxiety and previous negative or painful sexual experiences — the body learns to brace, and then keeps bracing.
It is worth saying plainly: this is not something you are doing on purpose, and it is not a failure of will.
How it is treated
There is more than one effective route, and the right one depends on what is driving it:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy, where anxiety is a significant component.
- Manual dilation, worked through gradually.
- Botulinum toxin injection to relax the muscle.
- Surgery, in a minority of cases.
When to come
Whenever you want to. Many women live with this for years before mentioning it to anyone, often assuming that nothing can be done. Something usually can.
Book a consultation — you can write it down rather than say it out loud if that is easier.
