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Vaginismus

Vaginismus

What is Vaginismus?

Vaginismus is a condition in which an attempt to have penetrative sex, or indeed to insert anything into a woman's vagina causes the muscles surrounding the vagina to tighten, and to clamp shut, making penetration painful or impossible.

Vaginismus not only affects sexual intercourse, it can also affect gynaecological examinations and the use of tampons.

Vaginismus is an involuntary reflex which can be compared to any other reflex action where the body closes up as a reflex, like when the eye blinks if something approaches it.

With vaginismus, although the closing of the vagina is usually involuntary, it is often due to a learned response to pain, that is to say, the woman expects pain, or remembers previous painful experiences, or simply imagines that penetration will be painful, and the vaginismus reflex occurs.

Vaginismus can be excaserbated by the anticipation of pain or discomfort.

If penetration is then attempted, it can be painful simply because the muscles are tight.

In that case, the pain is subconsciously re-inforcing the fear, which in turn tells the subconscious that it was right to fear the pain, and it can cause an even stronger response the next time.

Primary Vaginismus

Primary vaginismus is the name given to the condition when the woman has never been able to have sexual intercourse, or indeed insert anything into the vagina.

Primary vaginismus is often discovered in the teenage years, when the girl tries to use tampons, or goes for an internal examination and finds it to be extremely uncomfortable.

This fear of pain then causes an anxiety which will bring with it the conditioned reflex response of closing upwhenever the woman then subsequently attempt intercourse.

Secondary Vaginismus

Secondary vaginismus is the name given to the condition where the woman has been able to achieve penetration in the past, but develops vaginismus after some time.

Treatment for vaginismus is often easier for women with secondary vaginismus than it is for women with primary vaginismus, simply because the woman is aware that penetration without pain is possible.

Using hypnotherapy as a treatment for Vaginismus

Assuming that the vaginismus is caused by a psychological issue, rather than a physiological one, it can be successfully treated using hypnotherapy.

Because analytical hypnotherapy is very effective at relieving anxiety, we can greatly help those women whose vaginismus is caused by just such an anxiety, like the fear of pain.

If you are a woman who suffers from vaginismus, and feel that it might be caused by an anxiety like we've described, why not come along for an intial consultation, so that we can meet, and discuss your individual needs.

FREE initial consultation

Paul offers a FREE initial consultation for you to come along to meet him and have an informal chat about the ways that he can help you.

He will listen to you, answer all your questions, and explain how he can use hypnotherapy to help YOU.

When you are happy with Paul and what he has to say, you can talk to Paul about how he will take you through the therapy.

You've got nothing to lose. The initial consultation is completely free of charge, and of course, without obligation.

Book your free initial consultation now:

Telephone: 01354 696155

E-Mail: paul@pauldouglass.co.uk

The Cambridgeshire practice is conveniently located for Cambridge, St Neots, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Ely, Newmarket and March

Some weekend appointments are available, please call for details.

We are also listed in Anxiety Matters.com - Information, articles, resources and news on anxiety, phobias, anxiety attacks (panic attacks), depression, social anxiety, hypnosis/hypnotherapy and stress