Vaginismus
Vaginismus is a highly debilitating female sexual
condition. Here at The London Clinic a
breakthrough new service is available for the treatment of
vaginismus with muscle relaxing injections.
What is vaginismus?
Vaginismus is a condition where the muscles
around the vagina tense involuntarily when vaginal penetration is
attempted. It makes sexual intercourse, pelvic examinations and
smears painful, challenging or even impossible in more severe
cases.
Many women will likely experience vaginismus
at some point in their lives, with the condition being most common
from the late teens until the thirties. It can even occur in women
who have a history of enjoyable and painless sexual
intercourse.
Possible causes of vaginismus
include:
-
* an unpleasant sexual experience at a young
age, sexual abuse, or sexual assault
* poor understanding of sexual intercourse
and/or feelings of shame or guilt
* injury, infection or inflammation of the
vagina, pelvis or bladder
* persistent vaginal dryness or irritation
caused by spermicides or latex in condoms
* fear or dislike of sexual intercourse
because it is difficult or painful, or fear that the
-
vagina is too small
-
* fear of getting pregnant or the
after-effects of childbirth
* relationship problems
* tiredness or depression
* alcohol, drugs or some medications
Treatment
Vaginismus is very treatable. If the cause is
psychological, it may be treated using counselling or sex
therapy.
For women who find these treatments unhelpful,
muscle relaxing injections can be an option.
- * Muscle relaxing
injections
Muscle relaxing injections
have a local effect and block transmission between the
nerve
endings and muscle fibres,
which causes weakness of the nearby muscle.
Tiny injections are delivered directly into the
muscles in the pelvic floor, with no anaesthesia
required. The
procedure takes approximately ten minutes and discomfort is usually
minimal
and brief. The relaxation
of the pelvic floor muscles takes effect within five to seven
days.
Our experts
Despite its proven effects, using muscle
relaxing injections to treat vaginismus is not common practice,
with only very few gynaecologists in the UK experienced in offering
this treatment.
Mrs Britt Clausson, Consultant Gynaecologist