Recently I had a close friend who confided in me about pain she was experiencing during intercourse. She said that sex was always painful for her, but lately she was having trouble with insertion, although she had never had a problem with it before and she has been with the same partner for many years. This can’t be healthy, right?
Sex should be something that brings pleasure not pain, so ongoing pain during intercourse is a sign that you should consult a doctor or gynecologist. Your friend sounds like she has many of the symptoms associated with a condition called Vaginismus. Vaginismus is caused by involuntary tightening of the pelvic floor muscles, which can create either a partial or full closing of the vaginal walls making it impossible or extremely painful to insert anything into the vagina. Side effects include stinging or burning feelings with tightness during sex, partial or complete closure of the vaginal opening, ongoing sexual discomfort, difficulty using tampons, halted breathing when attempting intercourse, or muscle spasms in other parts of the body when attempting penetration. There are varying degrees of the condition and it can be triggered at different ages for different people. Some individuals who originally had pain free sex experience a gradual increase in tightness and pain overtime, while others discover the condition during their first sexual encounter. Vaginismus can also be triggered by birthing or after a traumatic experience like rape or sexual assault.
Individuals with Vaginismus often do not know they have the condition and don’t think there is anyway to cure the issues they are having with sexual intercourse. This is not a subject many individuals feel comfortable talking to others about, definitely not their doctors, but with the proper diagnoses and treatment many women who suffer from Vaginismus can find relief. Your friend is certainly not alone, about 7% of women worldwide suffer from side effects associated with Vaginismus from mild pain to complete closure of the vaginal opening. Treatment is dependent on the severity of the symptoms, so it’s best to consult a doctor who can properly diagnose your condition. With proper care pain-free sex is possible.
I hope this helps you to find even more pleasure during playtime. If you have any other sex questions you want answered or need advice send me an email at ask@nitetimetoys.com and I’ll be happy to answer it.
