Vaginismus: a lot of women are ashamed to talk about it

Millions of women are suffering a painful medical condition in silence because they are too ashamed to seek help, gynaecologits warn.

Vaginismus is the result of an involuntary reflex contraction of the pubococcygeus muscle, which supports the vagina. It causes the vaginal muscles to involuntarily tighten and is often dubbed 'vaginal panic attacks'. The disorder affects a woman’s ability to engage in any form of vaginal penetration, including sexual intercourse, insertion of tampons and gynaecological examinations. 

Doctors say many of their  clients who suffer from the condition were raised in 'rigid, conservative environments, in which female virginity is prized and sex is considered dirty'. Vaginismus is such a personal issue and for many women it impacts on their confidence and makes them feel like a failure. 

Gynaecologists claim that seeking treatment is vital if you want to start a family, as gynaecological examinations are a part of life and should not cause distress. Motivated women without significant complications usually find that six weeks is adequate to resolve their sexual pain or penetration problems. 

So if you suffer from this painful condition, doctors say it is the right time to cure it.

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