When a woman has vaginismus, the muscles that surround the vagina involuntarily tighten or spasm, which makes vaginal penetration painful and difficult. This condition can interfere with sexual intercourse, tampon use, or gynecological exams. It is essential for women experiencing symptoms of vaginismus to understand the potential causes. Let us discuss what causes vaginismus and which doctor specializes in performing vaginismus treatment in Mumbai. 

What is Vaginismus? 

Vaginismus occurs when the muscles surrounding the vaginal opening contract and cause discomfort. This response is usually an instinctive reaction to fear or the expected experience of pain related to penetration. This may manifest as trouble or an inability to have vaginal intercourse or insert objects such as a tampon. 

The Most Common Causes of Vaginismus

1. Anxiety and Fear

Fear or anxiety surrounding vaginal penetration is one of the most common reasons for vaginismus. Generally, fear comes from anticipating pain or discomfort or other negative sexual experiences. The muscles will spasm in order to prevent the anticipated harm.

2. Sexual Abuse or Trauma 

For many women, a history of sexual trauma, sexual abuse, or sexual assault can be a significant cause of vaginismus. The emotional distress and fear surrounding these situations can cause the body to involuntarily tighten vaginal muscles during penetration.  A history of traumatic gynecological procedures or complicated childbirth also can later lead to difficulty with penetration and vaginismus.

3. Painful Medical Disorders or Experiences

Pain from past vaginal penetration, whether due to an infection, childbirth, or an examination by a gynecologist, can be one factor leading to vaginismus. Painful intercourse from an underlying disorder such as vulvodynia, thrush, a yeast infection, or pelvic inflammatory disease may also lead the body to tighten its muscles as a defense mechanism. Medical treatment or surgery in the pelvic area may also contribute to pain.

4. Physiological Factors 

Physiological causes exist. Hormonal changes during menopause can create dryness and a loss of elasticity in the tissue, resulting in painful penetration and vaginismus symptoms. Vaginismus can also occur from childbirth trauma to the pelvic muscles, previous surgeries, or chronic pain that results in muscle spasm related to vaginismus

5. Unknown Causes

In some cases, there is no clear cause. The complex interplay between physical and emotional factors means each case can be unique, requiring professional assessment for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.​

Experiencing signs of vaginismus? Book a consultation with Dr. Chaitali Mahajan Trivedi, a leading gynaecologist in Mumbai at Nanavati Superspeciality Hospital. She will diagnose the cause of the condition and will recommend an effective treatment. Consult her today for more details.