What are the potential "cause" of Vaginismus?

Being involved in an active group on Facebook, this is one of the most highly debated topics in the group.  This blog is strictly a reference and not a discussion group. So as you read through this entry we will go with the "what does other sources state" and then look at how the individual members feel is the cause of them having it from the individuals whom have agreed to have their comments posted without a name.

I'm going to state that its better to go this page of vaginismus.como see what they say. It has some great charts that talk about physical causes and emotional causes.. I think this is the best source I have seen. https://www.vaginismus.com/vaginismus-causes .


Now we will move to the members feelings:

"I was raped when I was little and I do believe that this is a large part of why I have Vaginismus. Although I learned that a cousin may have had issues that prevented coitus with their spouse but due to the nature of relationship of my parents to that side of the family. I never got to learn more about the reasons for the issues. But often wondered potential "genetic factor". I still feel my past plays a huge role. "- one member

"I believe mine is the fear of pain and the fact that both my husband and I are virgins. Sometimes I think he has no idea what he's doing!"- posted with permission from one member.

"Abuse and fear of pain, misknowledge of our bodies, vagina's symbolism (vagina--> the sacred center of us like women and persons has been harmed for thousands years and it doesn't mater if we haven't been abused or raped directly. I mean, this pain and energy continues because like women we have too much to heal..)"- from another member of the group.

"I first started to notice pain with sex about two weeks after I had a pretty bad UTI in 2010. Ever since then I have had pain with sex and medical exams."- from a member in the group.

"I don't know because I've had it since at least fifth grade (didn't know at the time, thought it was weird stomach pain). I'm now in my 20's."- from a member in the group.

What are the Symptoms of Vaginismus as seen by articles and words used by members?

In this post we are going to address the symptoms of Vaginismus...

Again with the online sources list and then we will move to the members.

After looking at many of the different sites.. I picked www.vaginismus.com for their comprehensive list of symptoms because they seemed to have all the different symptoms noted by the other sites and then some. They note that they list the common symptoms so it isn't a comprehensive list.

"* Burning or stinging with tightness during sex
  * Difficult or inability for penetration to occur, entry pain, uncomfortable insertion of penis
  * Unconsummated marriage
  * Ongoing sexual discomfort or pain following (childbirth, yeast/urinary infections, STDS,IC, hysterectomy, cancer and surgeries, rape, menopause, or other issues
  * Ongoing sexual pain of unknown origin with no clear cause
  * Difficulty of inserting tampons or having a pelvic/gynecological exam
   * Spasms in other body muscle groups (legs, back, et) and /or halted breathing during attempts at intercourse
   * Women avoids sex due to pain and/or failure "

This next part is members sharing their symptoms. They may use other words to explain their symptoms.. Add to the list based on how they feel. 

" I have primary. My symptoms were an inability to use a tampon. Insertion would cause me to pass out from the pain and sometimes inability to insert. At the beginning of my marriage it was an inability for penetration to occur. It was like there was this block wall preventing insertion resulting in an unconsummated marriage. I had a hard time with gynecological visits and Pap smears were problematic.  I definitely have experienced spasms in other body muscle groups. Until recently I never really connected that to the Vaginismus.  The burning was a very description of the pain experienced when having sex.  As a result of lack of success in the bedroom and pain, as a woman with the condition I found myself trying to avoid the bedroom at night and the whole sex because it was stressful. I think if I were to add to that list. I would say this list does not talk about the self-confidence issues, depression, despair, stress that is connected to this condition. " - From a member of the group.

What is Vaginismus? (Medical Definition and then How do Suffers define themselves)

What is Vaginismus?

There are several ways to look at this question and we are going to address both in this blog. To give the medical definition, I'm going to pull from several sources for you to see their interpretation to this question.

The first place of information that is obtained. This is the http://www.vaginismus.com/'s website's definition and their image or representation. I highly recommend checking out their website to see what information this source has.

http://www.vaginismus.com/

" 

Vaginismus is a vaginal tightness causing discomfort, burning, pain, penetration problems, or complete inability to have intercourse." It is pronounced [vaj-uh-niz-muh s].  The woman suffering with vaginismus has no direct control or 'will' this tightness to occur, it is an involuntary pelvic response.  She may not even have any awareness that the muscle response is causing this tightness or penetration problems. Some cases of vaginismus tightness may begin to cause burning, pain, or stinging during intercourse. In other cases, penetration may be difficult or completely impossible.  It is the main reason for unconsummated relationship.  The tightness can be so restrictive that it prevents the man from being able to insert his penis into the female vagina.  The pain will end when the sexual tempt stops and often sexual intercourse is halted due to the pain and discomfort."

The below picture is one that is from the www.vaginsmus.com but is a visual display.

Vaginismus Involuntary Tightness - In the diagram on the left, the effects of vaginismus are illustrated with the tightening of the pelvic floor muscles and the resulting tightness of the vagina. On the right, the pelvic floor is relaxed and intercourse is possible without pain. "

The second source I quoted is an online common medical journal that many people reference when looking for information. Feel free to also check their information out. While I think it does a good definition. The first source is what I would call the guru of vaginismus and knowledge on it.
http://www.webmd.com/women/guide/vaginismus-causes-symptoms-treatments

"Where a women's vagina's muscles squeeze or spasm when something is entering,  like a tampon or a penis. It can be mildly uncomfortable, or it can be painful. There are treatment methods using exercises that a woman can do to help, sometimes within weeks."

Pretty much you can see that the medical discusses the pelvic floor muscles that spasm when something is near or the thought of insertion or something attempting to be inserted is occurring. A key thing to note is pain or discomfort in sex.  

There are two types of Vaginismus that get discussed:

Primary: This is where the person has had it since they became aware of it (could be a gyn appointment, first attempt at a tampon, or first attempt to have sex). 

Secondary: Person was able to have pain free sex, they have vaginismus often times after childbirth or a medical procedure.

But as you can imagine the medical definition doesn't always show or really always have the total image and picture of what goes on with the individual whom has vaginismus. You will find commonalities in experiences.. But how a person views themselves and the condition and how they define it might be a little different.  Some of our members have agreed to let us quote their definition and way of looking at and defining vaginismus.

"It has been a condition that I have suffered with for almost 15 or more years. I had no name and really no understanding that I had a condition and that it was treatable. My mom was a nurse and had no idea that there were signs. It wasn't until I was 23 and on my honeymoon that I realized there was a problem. Mine was primary and made sex impossible. It was four years later that I found a Physical therapist and after a year of weekly treatment managed to be able to have obgyn appointment, and to insert a tampon, and later have sex. Now I have a son. To me vaginismus has been a frustration and making me feel different and not part of the club. After having my son, I regressed and due to time and inconvenience of location from therapy haven't been able to make a whole lot of progress. To me Vaginismus is this big hush hush secret and that even doctors don't know a lot. I think that makes it feel like it is even more of a dark secret. Because not a whole lot of medical professionals really understand the condition and what it does. The ones that do seem to have their hands in a money pocket looking for business. It is one of the reasons I joined the group and really wanted this blog to be made to help educate other women."- One of the admins of the group.

"My subconscious mentally making my PC muscles tighten to make it difficult/impossible to achieve penetration."- from a member in the group with Primary.

"I would define it, in my case at least, as a mental block-although subconscious-that interacts with my physical and conscious self in a negative and restrictive way..."- from a member in the group with Primary.

"Like there wasn't even a hole there and while finger and tampons work easily, gyno exams and especially intercourse hurt and burn awfully. Vaginismus seems to talk to me. I can fool the whole world including myself, but I cannot fool my vagina. To me, vaginismus is the symptom, not the cause, of deeper seated anxieties in life that need to be addressed alongside treatment."- From a member with Primary.

"Dr. Oz video I just saw described it perfectly for me. Vaginal panic attack. He also called it 'back spasm of the vagina'. Both are accurate depending on the circumstances of the day"- from a member with Primary.

"

Welcome to the Vaginismus Support Group Blog

Welcome to the Vaginismus Support Group Blog.  This blog is connected to a Facebook Social media group run by four women that suffer and have Vaginismus.  Vaginismus is a condition that impacts women.  This blog is simply to present techniques and resources that members of the group have found or that doctors have shared. It is a place to read and learn about different things connected to the condition.
This blog connects to the groups. None of the members information or personal experiences will be shared on this blog without the written permission or request of the members in this group. It is a very sensitive group and members are expected to respect the privacy of the other members.

A link to the Facebook group will be posted above..

We will also include a resource for different other groups and blogs that can be looked at for information.