What causes vaginal spasm and how to get rid of it?

Vaginismus is a common condition that affects about 20% of women. The severity of the symptoms a woman experiences varies depending on the extent and duration of the pain, and whether or not it is related to pregnancy. In this article, we will review through Dalili Medical the concept of vaginismus and its symptoms, in addition to the available treatment methods that can contribute to making intercourse easier and painless. Follow us.

**What is vaginismus?**

Vaginismus is a condition in which the pelvic muscles contract involuntarily, which leads to narrowing of the vagina and makes it difficult for the penis to enter. Sometimes, intercourse may occur, but it is accompanied by severe pain. However, this condition does not affect a woman's sexual desire, as she can enjoy all other forms of sexual intercourse.

**What conditions may be confused with vaginismus?**

Vaginismus is often confused with some other symptoms such as pain, burning, or a tingling sensation during intercourse. The causes behind these symptoms can be multiple, such as vaginal infections, vaginal dryness, anatomical abnormalities, or problems with the hymen, which requires a careful examination to differentiate between them.

**What are the feelings of women with vaginismus?**

One of the most prominent symptoms that women suffer from in this case is feeling a panic attack. The woman may be fully conscious, but she loses control, which leads to her feeling fear and anxiety. Over time, feelings of depression and guilt may develop, as she feels that she has caused her husband to suffer. She may think that she is the only one suffering from this problem, which leads to a loss of self-confidence and self-hatred, in addition to anxiety about not being able to conceive.

**Are there causes that lead to secondary vaginismus?**

Yes, there are several factors that may lead to secondary vaginismus, such as diseases, menopause, psychological trauma, marital disputes, surgeries, or childbirth. Even after treating the underlying medical causes, pain during intercourse may continue.

**Can pregnancy occur with vaginal spasm?**

Although vaginal spasm affects the ability to have sex due to preventing penetration, there are cases in which pregnancy has occurred despite the woman suffering from this condition. Therefore, it is recommended to go to a specialist doctor when facing the problem of vaginal spasm or when wanting to get pregnant.

**Types of involuntary vaginal spasm**

There are several types of involuntary vaginal spasm that can affect women of different ages, as follows:

1. **Primary Vaginismus**: This condition has been experienced by women since childhood, as they feel pain every time they try to use a tampon or undergo gynecological examinations. Women often face this problem during their first sexual experience, as it is difficult for the partner to insert his penis due to vaginal spasm and closure, as if she is hitting a wall at the vaginal opening. When trying to have sexual intercourse, the woman suffers from pain and general muscle spasms, and may stop breathing for a short period. However, these symptoms disappear when attempts at penetration stop.

2. **Secondary Vaginismus**: This type of spasm is not present from the beginning, but rather appears and develops at a certain stage in a woman's life. The woman has had a previous normal sexual experience, used tampons, and underwent internal examinations without any problems.

3. **Global Vaginismus**: This type is characterized by involuntary vaginal spasm that always occurs when trying to insert anything into the vagina.

4. **Situational Vaginismus**: This type of spasm occurs only in certain situations, such as during sex, while it may not occur during gynecological examinations.

**Duration of Vaginismus Treatment**

There is no specific period for treating vaginismus, as it mainly depends on the seriousness of the spouses and their understanding and following of the instructions, in addition to the cooperation of the doctor supervising the case.

**Can a woman with vaginismus become pregnant?**

Pregnancy can occur in cases of simple vaginismus, but it is preferable to complete the treatment period before thinking about pregnancy.

**Duration of the effect of Botox injections**

The effect of treating vaginismus with Botox lasts for at least 6 months, and after this period, the woman may not notice the withdrawal of the effect of Botox from the vaginal area.

Indications of vaginal problems

When a woman suffers from vaginal problems, she suffers from some different manifestations, specifically: A problem in controlling the withdrawal of muscles in the vagina, which hinders the usual closeness. Lack of sexual desire in women, this is due to her feeling of pain that prompts her to stop intimate practice. Vaginal emission and infections, which cause pain and a tingling sensation where the woman sees strange secretions.

Types of Vaginal Spasm

Vaginal spasm can be divided according to the time of occurrence or infection of the woman into two types:

Primary: In this case, the woman suffers from vaginal spasm throughout her life, as no foreign body such as the penis, gynecological examination devices, or tampon has entered her vagina, meaning that she is found to suffer from vaginal spasm in her first experience.

Secondary: Here, the woman is able to achieve penetration without any problems before she suffers from vaginal spasm.

In both cases, vaginal spasm may have a negative impact on the woman's sexual and marital life. In addition to not enjoying sexual life, the inability to reproduce naturally (especially in the primary type) makes it difficult to form a family, and then it may lead to separation.

Specific vaginal spasm: It is related to sexual intercourse only, and does not cause pain during vaginal examination or inserting tampons in the vaginal area, but is related to sexual intercourse. Global vaginal spasm: It is spasm that occurs at any time, and anything that works

On its arousal.

**Causes of vaginal spasm**

There are several factors that may lead to vaginal spasm, which affects the marital relationship. In some cases, there may be no clear cause for the spasm, provided that there are no organic causes. These causes can be classified into three categories:

1. **Painful previous experiences**: If the first sexual experience was accompanied by pain due to the partner's incivility, the woman may suffer from vaginal spasm in subsequent encounters. A woman may also be exposed to this spasm if she was exposed to any form of sexual assault, such as rape or incest, when she was young or old.

2. **Personal issues**: Vaginal spasm may occur as a result of a girl growing up in a conservative environment that considers thinking about sexual matters and desires unacceptable, which causes feelings of shame and shame. Some women may believe, due to incorrect information, that penetration is painful, and it may reach the point of believing that the vagina is too small and cannot accommodate the husband's penis, or that the penis is like a piece of iron that will hurt them. Therefore, some may prefer to use the term "penis" instead of "penis", which is used in some non-Arabic languages.

3. **Bad marital relationship**: In the event of a lack of harmony between the spouses, or if the wife is subjected to verbal or physical abuse, or if she is forced to marry the person who raped her to preserve the family's honor, the woman may express her protest in a non-verbal and unconscious way, through vaginal spasms during the encounter, which prevents the husband from enjoying and preserving her dignity, as penetration is considered rape.

4. **Vaginal infections**: Vaginitis is one of the main causes of vaginal spasms, as it causes unexpected problems such as tingling and pain. These infections can arise as a result of neglecting vaginal hygiene, continuous vaginal discharge, or contamination of the area. The likelihood of this problem also increases after the menstrual cycle, and hormonal disorders may also cause vaginitis.
**Symptoms of Vaginal Spasms**

When a woman suffers from vaginal spasms, she may experience a number of other symptoms, including:

- **Difficulty controlling vaginal muscle contractions**: which negatively affects the ability to have sexual intercourse normally.

- **Low sexual desire**: as a result of feeling pain, which prompts the woman to stay away from intimate intercourse.

- **Vaginal secretions and infections**: which cause pain and itching, as the woman notices abnormal secretions.

**What are the complications of vaginal spasms?**

Vaginal spasms can have negative effects on the marital relationship, causing feelings of embarrassment, discomfort and frustration in both spouses. The woman may suffer from self-reproach, guilt and loss of self-confidence, as a result of her feeling that she is hindering the success of the penetration process. In contrast, the man may mistakenly believe that he is the reason for the failure of the process, especially if he faces the problem of premature ejaculation after attempts at penetration.

**Is there a medicine to treat vaginismus?**

Yes, there are a range of medicines available to treat vaginismus, including:

- **Albothyl 6 Vaginal Suppositories**

- **Mycoheal 400mg Vaginal Suppository**

- **Gyno Mikozal 400mg**

- **Clotrizole 0.1 Gm Vaginal Tablet**

**Treatment of vaginismus with Botox**

Botox, also known as "vaginal spasm injections", is a last resort option for treating vaginismus after all other attempts have failed. These injections contain a substance that works to prevent muscle spasms without the need to penetrate the vagina or feel pain.

**Steps to treat vaginal spasm using Botox**

1. **Local anesthesia**: Local anesthesia is applied to the vaginal area.
2. **Determining the injection areas**: The areas that will be injected with Botox are determined.
3. **Botox injections**: The specified areas are injected with Botox, which helps prevent muscle spasms during intercourse.

**Treatment of vaginal spasm with the Qur’an**

Abdullah bin Abi Malikah narrated that his aunt Fatima bint Abi Habish said: “I came to Aisha and said to her: O Mother of the Believers, I fear that I will have no share in Islam and that I will be among the people of Hell, as I continue to menstruate and do not pray.” Aisha said: “Sit down until the Prophet comes.” When the Prophet came, Aisha told him what Fatima had said, so he said: "Order Fatima to abstain every month for the number of days of her menstruation, then wash, cover herself, use a cloth, and clean herself, then purify herself before each prayer and pray, for that is a stroke from the devil, or a broken vein, or an illness that has befallen her."

Malik also narrated on the authority of Abu al-Zubayr al-Makki that Abu Ma'iz al-Aslami, Abdullah ibn Sufyan, told him that he was sitting with Abdullah ibn Umar, and a woman came to him asking him, and she said: "I want to circumambulate the House, but I bleed at the door of the mosque, so I went back until that went away from me, then I came back and the same thing happened." Abdullah ibn Umar said: "That is a stroke from the devil, so wash yourself, use a cloth, and then circumambulate."

**What is the treatment for vaginal spasm?**

Vaginal spasm is a condition that can be treated by treating the causes that lead to it. Treatments focus on reducing the muscle response that causes tension, and addressing anxiety and fears that may contribute to the condition. Your health care provider may recommend several treatment options, including:

1. **Topical therapy**: Using topical lidocaine or combination creams can help relieve pain associated with vaginismus.

2. **Pelvic floor physical therapy**: This aims to relax the pelvic floor muscles, and your doctor will help you learn appropriate relaxation techniques.

3. **Vaginal dilators**: These tubular devices come in different sizes and are used to dilate the vagina. Using them helps people with vaginismus feel more comfortable and less sensitive to penetration. Your doctor may recommend using a topical numbing cream to facilitate dilator insertion and avoid spasm.

4. **Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)**:

This type of therapy helps to understand how thoughts influence feelings and behaviors, and is effective in treating anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It may require taking some anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications.

5. **Sex therapy**: In some cases, it may be necessary to seek the help of a sex therapist, who will train the patient to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and facilitate the process of intercourse. The therapist will also help the patient to get to know her body, especially the sexual organs, and how they interact with intimacy, as not understanding these organs well may enhance vaginismus.

6. **Vaginal dilators**: This treatment may take some time, but it has proven effective with many patients. During the sessions, the doctor will help the patient to relax completely, then she will start by inserting the first dilator in a small size, which helps to strengthen and relax the vaginal muscles. Gradually, larger dilators will be used until the size that fits the penis is reached.

**Exercises to treat vaginismus**

Relaxation exercises are essential elements that women should practice regularly. These exercises help women learn about the nature of the vagina and the muscles surrounding it, and understand how they work and what happens in this area during arousal and sexual intercourse. Through this, the causes of spasms can be understood and effective solutions can be found for them. Relaxation exercises also contribute to enhancing the feeling of comfort during sexual intercourse, which reduces the occurrence of annoying spasms.

**Vaginal muscle tightening exercise**
You can work on strengthening the small muscle at the vaginal opening to make it softer, which helps get rid of spasms. To achieve this, it is recommended to tighten this muscle slightly for several seconds after urinating, then let it relax. This process should be repeated several times so that the muscle gets used to relaxing, which prevents vaginal spasms in the future.

**Pelvic floor exercises**
Pelvic floor exercises are essential for women who suffer from vaginal spasms, and they can be easily practiced at home. Among these exercises, the squatting position is recommended, which helps relax the genitals. You can also lie on your back with your knees bent and slightly apart, then raise and lower your pelvis repeatedly, which effectively activates the sensitive area.

**Squat exercise**
Squat exercise plays an important role in relieving vaginal spasms by contributing to the relaxation of the pelvic muscles. The following steps should be followed while practicing it:

- Stand straight.
- Bend your knees and go down.
- Repeat the exercise several times throughout the day.

**Child's pose exercise**
Women can benefit from the child's pose exercise to get rid of vaginal spasms, as it helps relax the thigh muscles. This is done by sitting on your legs and knees, extending your arms forward, and staying in this position for at least 3 minutes.

**Massage**
Massage is considered to have positive effects on women with vaginal spasms, as it helps improve their condition and feel comfortable by relaxing the muscles and relieving pain. It is preferable to use creams or ointments prescribed by the doctor during the massage, and repeat the process two to three times a day to get the best results.

**Kegel exercises**
Kegel exercises are effective in improving vaginal health and treating spasms, and they also contribute to alleviating urinary incontinence in women thanks to their role in strengthening the pelvic muscles. Lying on your back with your knees bent and your pelvic area raised is the ideal position for practicing Kegel exercises.

**Treating vaginal spasms using natural herbs**

- **Rosemary**: This herb contains effective properties that help relieve vaginal spasms, and also contributes to reducing itching and burning.

- **Black cumin**: This herb is useful in treating vaginal fungi that may lead to inflammation and spasms in the area.

- **Coconut**: Coconut is an effective antibacterial for bacteria that accumulate in the vagina, which helps relieve spasms. It is recommended to apply coconut oil to the vagina once a day for five days to get quick results.

- **Tea plant**: It contains oil that can eliminate fungi and bacteria in the vagina, where a few drops of this oil can be placed on the area.

- **Green tea**: It contains antioxidants, and tea bags can be used as compresses on the vaginal area to kill fungi and relieve cramps.

- **Thyme**: It helps prevent the accumulation of fungi and bacteria in the vagina. You can inhale thyme steam or take a small amount of oil, and repeat this recipe until the cramps are completely cured.

**Conditions similar to vaginal spasm**

Some diseases may cause symptoms similar to vaginal spasm, such as:

- **Vaginal atrophy**: It occurs as a result of a lack of estrogen after menopause, which leads to thinning and dryness of the vaginal lining.

- **Vulvar vestibulitis**: This inflammation causes pain during sex, known as dyspareunia, and the woman may feel constant pain during the experience.

**How ​​to avoid vaginal spasm on the wedding night**

There are steps that can be followed to avoid vaginal spasm, especially psychological ones resulting from fear and tension on the wedding night:

1. **Control stress and anxiety**: Women should learn about the details of sexual intercourse and what is related to it, and get rid of wrong ideas such as bleeding or severe pain during hymen rupture. Correct knowledge reduces fear and tension, which helps to relax during intercourse.

2. **Prolong the foreplay period**: Foreplay is an important stage before penetration, as it helps to moisturize the vagina by secreting vaginal fluid, which facilitates the entry of the penis without pain.

3. **Use intimate lubricant**: Intimate lubricant is essential, especially at the beginning of marriage, as it helps facilitate the entry of the penis without painful friction.

4. **Taking relaxants or sedatives

**: Women can take some relaxants or sedatives that help them relax, but they should consult a doctor before doing so.

5. **Vaginal cleaning and treating infections**: Women should undergo a medical examination before marriage to ensure that there are no infections or vaginal secretions, which helps avoid cramps during intercourse.