Therapist for Vaginismus

If you’ve never heard of vaginismus, you are not alone. Many people who experience vaginismus don’t know the actual term themselves! In the DSM (the book therapists and psychiatrists use to diagnose mental health conditions) it is unhelpfully called “Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder.” Quite a mouthful.  In medical literature, the more specific term “vaginismus” is preferred. However, we do know that pain during sex is somewhat common, impacting an estimated over 15% of women, and estimates for the prevalence of vaginismus range from 1-17%. These are common issues, but under-researched and under-represented in clinical care.

What is Vaginismus?

So let’s get into it. What separates vaginismus from general painful sex?

• pain during vaginal penetration or attempted penetration
• difficulty with achieving vaginal penetration
• fear or anxiety about vaginal penetration
• marked tension or tightening of pelvic floor muscles in response to attempted penetration

Often these symptoms create other problems too

• feelings of shame
• an unfulfilled desire for connection in sexual relationships
• conflicts with romantic/sexual partners
• low self-esteem

These symptoms are significant and can have profound impact on your mental health and well-being. And it is important to know that you *can* get better.

Therapy and Treatment for Vaginismus

There are many approaches to treating vaginismus, and we believe it is best to take a multi-disciplinary approach. The best treatment will involve a sensitive, informed gynecologist, a pelvic floor physical therapist, and mental health counseling or therapy for vaginismus. On the psychology side, the approach should involve some basic components:

1. Psychoeducation: Being informed about what vaginismus is from a non-shaming, non stigmatizing perspective is important.
2. CBT, and Understanding the Root Cause: Working to acknowledge and understand where certain beliefs about sex come from is essential, because these beliefs impact our minds and bodies.
3. Exposure therapy: Gentle, slow progress towards feeling comfortable with your body and reducing feelings of pain whilst increasing feelings of safety, calm, and pleasure is essential.