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YES®: Understanding Vaginismus: Symptoms, Causes, and TreatmentUpdated a month ago
Vaginismus is a condition that affects a woman’s ability to engage in sexual intercourse and, as such, can understandably be very distressing. In vaginismus, the pubococcygeus muscle involuntarily tenses in a similar reflexive manner to someone flinching. The tensed muscle means that penetration becomes difficult or even impossible.
The causes of vaginismus are generally psychological, although there can also be physical instigators. For example, vaginismus can happen following a negative sexual experience, an unpleasant medical examination or if sex is felt to be shameful. It can also be caused by a painful medical condition such as thrush.
Women suffering from vaginismus might feel a burning or stinging pain if the vagina is penetrated by a tampon, finger or penis. This can lead to a fear of pain and, therefore, an intense fear of penetration and avoidance of sex.