I’m proud of our Vaginismus Forum. Vaginismus can be a heartbreaking condition to deal with and the shame around it adds some real salt to the wound. So the fact that we have a place where people can go where vaginismus language is understood, it’s a drink of water in a desert of silence. Recently, …
Continue ReadingIs the Vaginismus Treatment under Anesthesia right for me?
In general I try to avoid over-generalizing patient situations because I think each patient is an individual and needs to be treated as such. I’m much happier to speak with patients (or their referring therapists) on a case by case basis to help them come to the right decision. We get dozens of calls each month …
Continue ReadingOut of the Box
Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist and one of the most influential thinkers in the field of psychology today. Among his contributions to the field is the formulation of what are called ‘defense mechanisms’. In lay terms, defense mechanisms are internal “security guards” inside of us whose goal is to protect us from experiencing pain and …
Continue ReadingVaginismus: A Former Patient’s Perspective
Hi everyone, my name is Kimberly C. I had the chance to moderate the Maze Blogcast on Vaginismus on 2/24/17 and am so happy that I had this opportunity. I had vaginismus all during my 20s and into my early 30s and understand so many of the emotions that go along with having it. I tried …
Continue ReadingVaginismus: It’s Okay to Feel Angry
I have found something interesting while working with vaginismus patients. Many of them are angry. Most of them don’t seem angry when they first come in. They seem sad, hopeless, confused, and afraid. I most often have the urge to put my arms around them and say “It’ll be okay. I promise you.” But oftentimes …
Continue ReadingComing Soon Live: Blogcast on Vaginismus
How do we combat an issue that nobody talks about? First step: We talk about it! Vaginismus is a condition where a woman can’t get a penis (finger, or tampon) into her vagina and is one of those issues that often lives in silence and shame. Around here, vaginismus is household term, but in society it’s …
Continue ReadingThe Vibrator and the Vaginismus Patient
Vibrators come in many shapes and sizes Vibrators for women come in many shapes and sizes. Many of our vaginismus patients have never seen or touched a vibrator, as it is very common for them to feel anxiety when thinking about using a vibrator for the first time. Most vibrators for women are designed to …
Continue ReadingPregnancy and Vaginismus
Women with un-treated vaginismus wonder if it is possible for them to get pregnant if they are unable to have intercourse. If they do get pregnant, they then wonder if natural childbirth will cure their pre-existing vaginismus by stretching the vaginal opening. The truth is that some women with primary vaginismus have been able to conceive …
Continue ReadingIs it Vulvodynia or Vaginismus?
When a woman goes to her doctor for sexual pain or the inability to have any form of penetration, they are often diagnosed with vulvodynia and not vaginismus. This is such an important subject that I would like to share with you some of the posts, as well as my responses, from our Vaginismus Forum on this topic. …
Continue ReadingThe GYN Exam: Fear of the Dreaded Speculum
GYN exams are an important part of a woman’s comprehensive health care. ALL women, regardless of their sexual orientation or their level of sexual activity, should have regular GYN exams. GYN exams allow women to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of their reproductive health, to become familiar with what is normal for their body and in …
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