Undoubtedly, one of the conditions I am most passionate about treating  is vaginismus. I wish I could scream it out loud: THERE'S HELP AND HOPE with the right treatment! I promise.  I have seen so many women  who suffer in silence for many years and finally get the help they need. They often share their frustrations of feeling isolated and alone in dealing with this. Often times, they don't attempt to have sexual relationships or end up losing relationships.  These women often share that they  also don't always participate in activities because they can't use tampons or  menstrual cups. 

What is Vaginismus?  
Vaginismus is characterized by fear, pain and vaginal spasm in anticipation of gyn exam, tampon or menstrual cup insertion, or vaginal penetration with sexual activity (finger, toys, penis). They typical definition describes vaginal muscles (pelvic floor muscles) that involuntarily or persistently contract when women attempt vaginal penetration. The condition can be caused by physical or psychological factors or a combination.  Some describe vaginismus and the reaction of the pelvic  floor muscles as a similar response to when  an object is brought close to someone's eye and there's a reflexive blink and  protection/closure.  

Primary vaginismus usually refers to the experience of vaginismus with first-time intercourse or other vaginal penetrative attempts.  Secondary vaginismus usually refers to the experience of developing vaginismus a little later in life, after a period of pain-free intercourse, gyn exams or tampon insertion.  This can relate to changes after  giving birth, medical conditions that may have even resolved, trauma or abuse, surgery, or having painful  penetration (dyspareunia)  for years that has now  transitioned to  a full vaginismus response. 

How  prevalent is it?  
Reports vary widely because many women don't share they have this treatable condition and suffer in silence. It  ranges from 1 in 1,000 to 16 in 100 women. 

What  types of treatments are available? 
The most important first step is to find  a healthcare provider (GYN specialist, UroGynecologist, or a Pelvic PT) who regularly sees patients with  pelvic pain conditions and vaginismus. Believe it or not, many  OB/GYNs do  not get specialized training in this area.  

In some cases, women still have  hymenal tissue that is completely or partially blocking the entrance to the vagina. I have had many patient cases over the years where the issue was not about the vaginal pelvic floor muscles or pyschological, but a true  block from hymenal tissue (sometimes hidden and farther back than  the entrance).  The treatment may include a very minor procedure (hymenectomy) to  cut some of that tissue away.  There are also  other medical conditions or hormonal deficiencies that should be considered as well. 

Once other medical conditions are ruled out, the ideal treatment  for vaginismus is  specialized pelvic physical therapy. That's what we do!  This is done in a private room and only one on one with someone who completely understands how to address this condition.  In some cases, it  may benefit you to  also see a counselor  who understands  how to address pain and anxiety, as this combination of treatment works very well. 

During pelvic physical  therapy sessions, we assess you as a whole person, not simply  as having vaginismus.  We  want to know about your experience and journey with this first.  There's no rush with examinations.  We  make a plan based on your current status and what your individual goals are.  Your primary goal may only be to have a  GYN exam for the first time, while other women who have been married for years may want to  have penetrative sexual activity for the first time.  We  provide treatments in the clinic (sometimes only 2-6 visits are needed) and also create a home program  for you to do that may include vaginal dilators.  Some women try vaginal dilators at home on their own, which may be enough. We often find that combining the full  range of therapies and home management recommendations  is usually much more effective.  In some cases,  you may also benefit from medications or topical creams  provided by a physician as well. 

We will be happy to share any other information  you'd like about what to expect during treatments. 

Is it ever too late to seek treatment?  
No.  Though  this may start early in life, we  see women  in their 40s-60s who finally decided to get help for this. It's never too late.  We encourage you to  reach out early if you can  (even in your teens). If any health provider tells you "it's just in your head" or " just relax more" or "drink wine," look for a new one.  We hear this all too often and it is not helpful advice. 

​What if I've tried treatment and it hasn't worked in the past? 
There's  not an exact standard of care for the treatment of vaginismus.  Over the years, I've heard  patients share all sorts of stories about  treatments and "potions" they  received. Many of our patients have seen 10-15 healthcare providers before finding us. The most important piece of advice is  DON'T GIVE UP.  There's hope and there are people who can help you.  (Refer to the directory below for healthcare providers in your area).

Here's an article I wrote that explains ways  that physical therapy and dilators can help.  Physical Therapy and Dilators. What's the  Connection?    ~ Tracy Sher

Some  more information and resources for you:

Vaginal Dilator Guide for Patients.  Pain, Fear,  and Anxiety

Vaginismus  Website  - How Many Women Have Vaginismus?

​Listing of Pelvic Health Professionals All Over the World. Ultimate Directory.

Most people think of physical therapy in terms of therapeutic treatment for orthopedic or neurological conditions – things such as back pain, knee pain, and strokes. Did you know, though, that there are pelvic health specialty-trained physical therapists who help women and men with very private conditions? The terms often used are: pelvic health physical therapists, women’s health physical therapists, or pelvic PTs.
 
So, how are vaginal dilators utilized for pelvic physical therapy?
 
Vaginal dilators are most effective when used for conditions that prevent the patient from having a desired body part (finger or penis) or object (tampon, speculum for GYN exam, vibrator, etc.) pass the vaginal opening and into the vaginal canal. Some examples of these types of conditions are:

1. Vaginismus
2. Dysparuenia (painful sex)
3. Vulvodynia, Vestibulodynia
4. Dermatological conditions such as: Lichens Sclerosis, Lichens Planus, Dermatitis
5. Hormonal changes at the vulva
6. Vulvar cancer
7. Post Radiation treatments for gynecologic cancers – particularly in the vaginal canal.
8. Vulvar or vaginal traumas/injuries

 
It is important to note that most of the conditions listed need a team approach to treatment, including the medical management component first. For example, if someone has a dermatologic condition, prior to or during the pelvic PT treatment timeframe and use of dilators, they may need a topical ointment applied to the vulvar tissue. Essentially, the use of dilators does not replace optimal medical and physical therapy management. Rather, it is an excellent adjunct to the appropriate treatment plan.
 
As a pelvic PT since 2000, I can attest that many patients over the years arrived for their evaluations with bags of various dilators and frustrated looks. A typical comment is “My doctor told me to get these, but didn’t provide any additional instruction” or “I ordered these online” followed by “but, I have no clue if I am using them the right way and I’m not even sure they are right for me.” Most of the time, the patients have the wrong sizes and/or the wrong product for their condition all-together. I’ve even heard physicians and pelvic PTs say, “I just don’t use them with patients because they aren’t really that effective.” I wholeheartedly disagree and have been on a mission to show the wonders of the dilator! When the appropriate dilators are selected and the patient is instructed properly on how to use them, there’s excellent potential for a successful outcome.  It can make a significant  difference to have a skilled pelvic physical therapy help guide you with dilators! 
 
When selecting dilators:

1. I make sure that the sizes are appropriate for the patient. For a patient who’s never been able to have a GYN exam or use a tampon their starting size may be different than a woman who’s having intercourse regularly and can use tampons, but she has some increased pain initially. Some dilator sets start out at a size that is already too big for the patients to comfortably handle. Soul source has one of the smallest starting sizes.
2. Another consideration is the type of material used. There are numerous sets out there that are made of plastic or other harder synthetic materials. This can be very painful for patients. The silicone material of the Soul Source dilators is softer and has more movement. Hands-down, most patients find this most comfortable.

 
In an ideal world, pelvic PTs should help the patient initially with a demo on how to properly use the dilators. This includes the best way to insert the dilators (many people are unaware of this aspect), lubricants to use, how to properly progress the dilators, and tips on how to facilitate the desired outcome and transition to the ultimate goal.
 
This is where pelvic PT has a large role in a successful outcome for a patient. In most educational manuals I’ve seen, the primary focus of dilators is just to stretch the vaginal canal and muscles enough over time to get a desired outcome. That’s just a part of what is happening and if only that aspect is addressed, it may be why some patients do not progress well.  The way I instruct dilators has to do with 3 primary factors.

1. Desensitization/Neural System Effect: The primary way I believe dilators are helpful is the most neglected part of how they are explained to patients typically. We can use our professional education here in a way that can make a large impact. When someone has pain with attempts at inserting a finger, penis or object into the vagina, there’s more going on than the patient’s end result of the pain experience. Pain is an output of the brain. There can be an increase in someone’s perception of pain when the nervous system is in “alert” mode. So, if someone is already anxious or fearful of using dilators or being touched in this area, their nervous system is essentially “ramped up.” I teach extensively on how to do the exact opposite – how to utilize what we know about the brain/nervous system and anxious responses as a way to set up the potential for a decreased pain experience. Here’s an extensive guide to this approach
2. “Stretch” Effect: This is the usually the most discussed method to use with dilators. We can utilize dilators as a tool to gently and slowly allow the vaginal canal and pelvic floor muscles to stretch or relax. This can be done just via insertion or there are ways to educate patients on how to provide more pressure and a static stretch to the muscles.
3. “Functional” Effect: We often hear patients ask, “how will I know when I’m ready to try intercourse again?” When I explain that dilators are, in essence, a way to gauge that readiness. I explain often that “dilators are the bridge between not tolerating any touch or insertion in that area to tolerating full penetration.” We teach strategies on how to slowly transition from smaller sizes to larger sizes; from no movement to simulating insertion and in/out movements; and from staying in one position to simulating a variety of positions (this can apply to how one puts in a tampon, varying sexual positions, etc).

 
Once the patient feels comfortable with the education and demonstrations, I often recommend dilators as part of a home program. It is a highly effective way for patients to feel proactive in their medical care versus waiting for a medical practitioner to do something to or for them. Moreover, it is a way to facilitate improvements consistently because patients can use them regularly and at times that work for their schedules.
 
* This post was initially  written for  the Soul Source dilator company.