- Vaginismus occurs when the vagina automatically tightens up when you try to insert something into it. This can be painful and upsetting but can also be treated.
- The treatment can be focused on identifying, understanding and changing any negative perception about body image and penetrative sex.
- Issues with women’s sex life tend to increase as the woman ages and can affect women at any stage in life.
The society seems to be leaning more toward superstition when it comes to health issues.
At times, different sources magnify it without having a scientific verification of whether superstition can indeed challenge science.
Kenyans have been treated severally to a hoax of news over biological malfunctions that can result in vaginismus, which they believe are caused by superstition.
How it occurs
Vaginismus occurs when the vagina automatically tightens up when you try to insert something into it. This can be painful and upsetting but can also be treated.
The condition is not a disease but is generally common, especially among teenagers and young women. This is caused by stress and anxiety on the part of the woman or the fear of penetration.
The treatment is usually therapeutic, done through psychological preparation before intercourse, having a desire for it and getting reassurance to allow the woman to relax her muscles.
Usually stigmatizing
However, the nature in which it occurs usually stigmatizes women and makes them feel lonely, leading to more stress as the aftermath is a series of stigmatization.
Patients describe a burning sensation when any attempt is made to insert anything into the vagina and cannot have any kind of gynaecological examination, such as a smear test (cervical screening).
It is something one has no control over. It is a muscle spasm. Because it is a hard subject, patients find it hard to talk about it.
This can cause relationship break-ups and hardship in getting children and can leave a patient lonely and isolated, thinking they are alone in it.
Possible causes, treatment
There might have been a traumatic or painful experience in the past, and this can cause primary vaginismus.
Less commonly, patients have no difficulties at all with penetrative sex and then develop a medical condition such as an infection like thrush and then have an experience of pains and that is secondary vaginismus.
According to Dr. Cheboi from Mercy Mission Hospital Eldama Ravine in Baringo County, “The treatment needs to be tailored according to each patient; it is important to manage feelings around anxiety when having penetrative sex.
The treatment can be focused on identifying, understanding and changing any negative perception about body image and penetrative sex.
Relaxation techniques and mindset techniques can help with this.
Sometimes the treatment is focused on retraining muscles through exercising. The pelvis contains the vagina, uterus, bowel, and bladder.
The floor of the pelvis is a sling of muscles that need to be targeted through pelvic floor exercises. This can be done using vaginal graduated trainers.”
Misunderstood
It is difficult to tell the women who have vaginismus because most do not seek medical attention.
Vaginismus has been reported before without it being a public spectacle, but one would argue about the instant superstition intervention shown on the news affecting people purported to be cheating on their spouses.
Discussion about sex is considered taboo and has been left to be done privately between involved partners.
When such discussions come up in Kenya, it mainly revolves around human interest issues like rape, defilement, assault, or, unfortunately, the misconception of the unconfirmed bewitching of cheating partners that can cause vaginismus.
Due to untold scientific facts, cheating couples would think twice as to whether their spouse is daring to ask for witchcraft help to catch their spouse cheating.
Witchcraft has been blamed before for causing certain abnormalities in sexual organs, especially in men.
In most cases, this is to get them to confirm, thus affirming the ritual’s powers. As for vaginismus, Dr. Cheboi says it happens naturally.
Other troubles
However, apart from this condition, other factors can contribute to intercourse issues.
Urinary tract diseases, chronic lung diseases, rheumatic diseases, diabetes (which directly impacts sexual function and health), hypertension, congestive heart failure, coronary heart diseases and cardiovascular diseases can all affect sexual intercourse.
High cholesterol, obesity and smoking can cause erectile dysfunction in men. Depression, stress, anxiety and other mental health concerns can cause harm too.
Certain medications such as birth control medications, chemotherapy, excessive alcohol, relationship problems and abuse can also affect your sex life.
Combating them
However, with help from doctors and therapists to address the main issue affecting your sex life, Dr Cheboi says one can manage stress and anxiety.
If affected, quit smoking, be open to communication, embrace simple lifestyle changes, exercise more, address your relationship issues, and embrace new activities, and you will start improving.
Women also face challenges in their reproductive health due to conception and childbirth, which come with challenges like fibroids and fistula, just to mention a few.
These disorders cause sexual dysfunction in women, such as orgasmic dysfunction, painful intercourse or dyspareunia, low libido and arousal difficulties.
Issues with women’s sex life tend to increase as the woman ages and can affect women at any stage in life.
Sexual dysfunction in women can be long-term or temporary.
In most cases, such people need to visit a doctor.
The doctor will take a full history. Mostly, past surgeries such as hysterectomy or oophorectomy can be the lead cause.
Physical exams are supposed to be done, too to rule out any gynaecological issues.
Imaging may also be necessary to check tumours, cysts and unusual lumps or growth.
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Hormonal imbalances can be checked through blood tests, while virginal cultures might be collected to look for an infection. Also, the medical specialists may check possible psychological causes.
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