Understanding Vaginismus: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Madeleine Edwards received a diagnosis of vaginismus approximately six months after giving birth to her daughter. This condition, characterized by involuntary vaginal muscle contractions, affects many individuals assigned female at birth, often without their awareness that it is treatable.
What is Vaginismus?
Associate Professor Pav Nanayakkara, a minimally invasive gynaecological surgeon, defines vaginismus as a common medical condition involving involuntary muscle contractions in the vagina.
These contractions can occur during activities such as sexual intercourse, tampon insertion, or medical procedures.
Research suggests vaginismus affects 1-6% of women, though Dr. Nanayakkara estimates the prevalence to be higher, around 5-10% at some point in life, partly due to underreporting. The condition presents with consistent symptoms but is categorized into two types:
Types of Vaginismus
- Primary Vaginismus: Occurs without any previous trauma.
- Secondary Vaginismus: Develops following a specific event, with birth trauma being a common cause. This type is often the body's protective response to a traumatic experience, such as severe tearing, feelings of vulnerability, or not feeling heard during childbirth.
Jenny Pell, a senior physiotherapist, describes vaginismus as a muscle spasm resulting from the brain perceiving a threat and attempting to protect the body.
Other potential causes include negative sexual experiences, pelvic surgery, vulval skin conditions, and infections. Understanding the root cause can help alleviate fear and facilitate physical progress.
An Isolating Experience
Madeleine's personal journey involved a complicated birth, including an episiotomy and subsequent infections, which required three sets of stitches over four months. Her diagnosis of vaginismus came during a follow-up appointment, where dryness and significant muscle tension were noted.
She felt validated by the diagnosis but also isolated, as many in her life, including herself, were unfamiliar with the condition. Madeleine described feeling a disconnect from her body, likening it to a lack of