Article : VAGINISMUS AND SEXUAL PAIN

VAGINISMUS AND SEXUAL PAIN

by Dr. Birch on

Sex is not supposed to hurt, but for many women it does. There are many medical reasons for painful intercourse (clinically called dyspareunia), and a physician should always be consulted. Pain might occur around the lips and clitoris, right around the vaginal opening, or deep within the vagina or abdomen. The pain might be experienced as a burning sensation, a sharp pain, or a dull ache. Women should be willing to talk with their doctors in detail, describing the location of the pain, the nature of the pain, and the activities that trigger the discomfort.

There are some women who, even though aroused, do not lubricate well. This might be due to age or medications that are being taken... or just something about the woman's biology. If this is all it is, the problem is likely to be solved with the use of a good, safe, water-soluble lubricant such as ASTROGLIDE. There is an article on this site that addresses the use of artificial lubrication.

There can also be discomfort during intercourse if a partner's penis is too long or too thick. This can be a real concern for some couples. If the problem is one of length and the woman feels discomfort when something internal is bumped, it might help if after being entered she closes her legs. This prevents deep penetration and might help avoid that particular kind of pain (that I call bumper dyspareunia). The problem of girth or thickness is not so easily solved. With time and learning to relax the vaginal muscles, this might eventually resolve itself. Strange as it sounds, it is often easier to relax the muscles surrounding the vaginal opening if a woman first has learned how to tighten them. Read about the Kegel Exercises.

There are a number of medical conditions that will cause sharp localized pain within the genital lips or around the vaginal opening, or a burning sensation along the vaginal walls. Persistent deep pain, or pain that seems related to a woman's monthly cycle, should be discussed with a physician.

There are some women who feel discomfort with attempted penetration of even the smallest penis, finger, or tampon. This might be the result of a condition known as Vaginismus. Vaginismus is the involuntary contraction of the band of muscles that surround the vaginal opening. The tightness prevents entry and the resulting pain causes the muscles to contract even more. The woman typically will feel out of control of this and is probably unaware of the involuntary tightening at the opening of her vagina. Sometimes the harder she or her partner tries, the worse the problem becomes.

Well over 85 percent of women treated for vaginismus will be having pain-free intercourse within six months of beginning treatment. The problem is best treated by a qualified sex therapist who will give the woman relaxation exercises to do at home. The video Treating Vaginismus portrays this therapeutic process.

As the woman learns to relax her body in general and especially her troublesome pelvic floor muscles, the therapist will introduce her to homework using vaginal dilators. These dilators come in a graduated series of sizes. A woman works her way up from a dilator perhaps no thicker than a piece of chalk to a dilator approximating the size of her partner's erection.

Much of what a woman needs to learn about relaxing and being comfortble with vaginal containment can be learned alone. However, if the woman is in a relationship, her partner will most likely be involved early in the treatment so that he understands what the purpose of the homework. He will be most certainly be involved later in the therapy as the couple approach the point when it is time to insert his penis.