A Small Introduction
WHAT IS VAGINISMUS?
Vaginismus is a condition characterized by painful and uncontrollable contractions of the vaginal muscles. Women who suffer from this physical and psychological disorder may experience discomfort, burning, or pain during sexual intercourse, gynecological exams, or while inserting tampons. They may also experience anxiety that causes them to withdraw from these situations.
Imagine you have a chronic tight neck or shoulder muscle. This would cause pain, not only when you touch the muscle but also if you attempt to touch the surrounding areas. Vaginismus works in a similar way. Vaginismus is due to the involuntary tightening of the pelvic floor muscles, mainly the Pubococcygeus (PC) muscle group.
Most women may be unaware of vaginismus or that they may have extremely tight pelvic floor muscles leading to pain known as dyspareunia. Dyspareunia is persistent or recurrent genital pain that occurs before, during, or after intercourse. Some common causes could be inadequate lubrication, rough sex, trauma, or negative feelings about their partner. However, it is thought that anywhere from 5 – 15% of women who present with dyspareunia may have vaginismus. It also believed that vaginismus may be a primary cause of sexless and unconsummated marriages.
Since vaginismus is not commonly diagnosed, women seeking help from physicians have been told to just “relax” before having sex rather than addressing the root of the problem. This is why Dr. Schwartz developed a technique for targeting the pelvic floor muscles. Women from all over the world have undergone long-lasting vaginismus treatment by Dr. Schwartz. We help break the pain cycle for good.