Treatment for pain in the vagina(Vaginismus)
Vaginal pain is likely to have been a problem for many women. When you have discomfort in any part of your body, you undoubtedly feel the need for immediate treatment. Likewise, in this blog, we can see treatment for pain in the vagina in detail.
How to Diagnose?
Having vaginismus may be a possibility if you have vaginal pain during sexual intercourse. The issue can be diagnosed with a history of inability to achieve vaginal penetration and confirmed with pelvic examination. It can be classified as mild to severe and five degrees according to severity.
Degrees of vaginismus
The Lamont scale was created to help in vaginismus diagnosis. Lamont categorized four degrees, but Pacik later added a fifth degree. The following are the five degrees of vaginismus based on the severity score.
First degree:
Here the person will have spasms of the pelvic floor. It can be relieved with reassurance.
Second degree:
In this case, despite reassurance, the woman has spasms throughout the pelvis.
Third degree:
It involves a severe pelvic floor spasm that causes the patient to raise her buttocks to avoid being examined.
Fourth degree:
The most severe type of vaginismus, in which the patient would completely avoid inspection by elevating the buttocks, moving away from the pelvic exam, and tightly closing the thighs.
Fifth degree:
Pacik added the fifth degree for this classification. In this case, the patient has a visceral reaction that may include hyperventilating, sweating, palpitations, trembling, shaking, nausea, vomiting, prolonged consciousness, jumping off the table, or even attacking the doctor.
Way to solve vaginismus
The treatment for pain in the vagina depends on the cause of the vaginal pain. Detailed history and meticulous clinical examination of the women will help to identify the probable cause of vaginismus.
The management of this issue is based on the etiology( the scientific study of the causes of disease). The vaginismus treatment focuses on reducing the reflex of vaginal muscles that tense up and addressing fear of the anxiety that contributes to it.
How do you manage
- Surgery is not usually needed
- Botox is being studied lately for its use in the treatment of vaginismus.
- Sex therapy-Trained Sex therapists can help couples to find pleasure again.
- Topical therapy- Topical numbing creams(local anaesthesia) may reduce the pain brought on by this condition.
- Pelvic floor physical therapy-Pelvic floor physiotherapy will be very useful in reducing the pelvic floor muscles.
- Vaginismus is a psychological condition. Management should be focused on addressing fear or anxiety that contributes to it.
- Vaginal dilator therapy-The primary purpose of this therapy is to stretch the vagina. People can increase their comfort by using dilators by initially putting numbing cream on the vagina’s surface to make insertion easier.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-This therapy is very effective in vaginismus associated with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorders.
Thus, don’t be embarrassed to speak with your doctor if you encounter muscle spasms or discomfort that makes sex difficult or impossible. Several patients find that after vaginismus treatments, their sexual lives and mental health have significantly improved. Get proper treatment for pain in the vagina and lead a happy and contented life.