Understanding Vaginismus: A Multifaceted Condition
The conditions known as vaginismus, vulval vestibulitus, and vulvadynia have physical symptoms and often have psychological issues underpinning the problem as well.
My clients usually present with painful areas in their genitals and sexual issues as a result.
My first instruction is to be cleared medically by the GP or gynaecologist, although as you might imagine I am not typically the first point of call. In most cases, all medical examinations have been carried out to seek treatment and rule out physiological abnormalities and STDs as a cause of the discomfort. During the course of the journey we take together, we explore family of origin beliefs systems around body issues, sexuality and early childhood conditioning. Also, a full sexual history of the positive and negative experiences the client might be bringing along with them. Any physically painful events as well as any uninvited sexual events. As we sort out the underlying concerns, we also explore practical strategies that can be implemented to work on the vulval area at home. It is a very private and person issue that needs expert intervention.
My most recent case has fully recovered and is now trying for a second baby in her relationship. I received a phone message from her husband and thought goodness, what’s gone wrong ! My fears were unfounded, and he was just leaving a message to thank me for the help as their life was going so very, very well. A very pleasing outcome. Vaginismus is an uncontrolled, involuntary spasm of the vaginal muscles. These spasms cause sexual intercourse to be painful. It is a complex disorder because it is both a psychological and becomes a physical condition, yet there is nothing wrong with the vagina, as medical examination confirms. My clients usually present with this problem in their 20s and 30s. Many have hidden the shame associated with not feeling “normal” by limiting their sexual experiences or having the sexual intimacy between themselves and their partner to become distant and unfulfilled.
Male partners feel afraid of hurting their partner or in some cases just interpret it as rejection and retreat from initiating intercourse. Vaginismus is fairly uncommon, but it can cause severe physical and psychological pain. It can be linked to a sexual encounter that has been painful physically or emotionally in the past or a belief system often inculcated by parental or religious views that have distorted the natural arousal, relax, enjoy, release sequence.
The conditions known as vulval vestibulitus, vulvadynia and vaginismus have physical symptoms and often have psychological issues underpinning the problem as well .
My clients usually present with painful areas in their genitals and sexual issues as a result.
My first instruction is to be cleared medically by the GP or gynaecologist although as you might imagine I am not usually the first point of call . In most cases all medical examinations have been carried out to seek treatment and rule out physiological abnormalities and STD ‘s as a cause of the discomfort.
During the course of the journey we take together we explore family of origin beliefs systems around body issues , sexuality and early childhood conditioning. Also a full sexual history of the positive and negative experiences the client might be bringing along with them. Any physically painful events as well as any uninvited sexual events .As we sort out the underlying concerns we also explore practical strategies that can be implemented to work on the vulval area at home. It is a very private and personal issue that needs expert intervention .
My most recent case has fully recovered and is now trying for a second baby in her relationship. I received a phone message from her husband and thought goodness what’s gone wrong ! My fears were unfounded and he was just leaving a message to thank me for the help as there life was going so very very well.
A very pleasing outcome.
Vulvar Vastibulitis:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulvar_vestibulitis
