Sexual intercourse is supposed to be a healthy and pleasurable experience. However, this may not be the case for women who experience vaginismus. Vaginismus is a unique health condition that causes the muscles in the vagina to involuntarily contract in response to any form of vaginal penetration. Since vaginismus is a rarely discussed and somewhat mysterious subject, our board-certified gynecologists wanted to shed some light on the matter by explaining how different types of vaginismus can affect women differently.
Primary Vaginismus
Primary vaginismus describes women who have always experienced their vaginismus symptoms. This means that the woman has never been able to tolerate any form of vaginal penetration without issue.
Secondary Vaginismus
In some cases, women who have previously enjoyed vaginal penetration without any issues can develop vaginismus symptoms. This is known as secondary vaginismus. Although every case is different, secondary vaginismus can originate as a result of childbirth, a specific traumatic event, or certain vaginal infections.
Global Vaginismus
Global vaginismus refers to women whose vaginismus symptoms occur during any and all forms of vaginal penetration. This can occur during sex, while trying to insert a tampon, or during routine gynecological exams.
Situational Vaginismus
Having situation vaginismus means that a woman may experience her symptoms during some types of vaginal penetration, but not during others. For example, a woman’s vaginismus may be triggered during sex, but not when she tries to insert a tampon. Vaginismus is a unique condition that may affect every woman differently.
We understand that vaginismus can be incredibly stressful. That’s why we offer a wide range of potential treatment options depending on each individual woman’s symptoms and needs. For more information on vaginismus or to request an appointment with one of our reproductive healthcare providers, please contact Gynecology Associates of Gwinnett. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more news, tips, and more.
