Understanding and treating vaginismus: a multimodal approach

Peter T. Pacik

This clinical opinion was written to bring attention to the understanding and treatment of vaginismus, a condition that is often under diagnosed and therefore inadequately treated, yet affects millions of women worldwide. Despite its description more than a century ago, vaginismus is rarely taught in medical school, residency training, and medical meetings. The DSM 5 classification stresses that vaginismus is a penetration disorder in that any form of vaginal penetration such as tampons, finger, vaginal dilators, gynecological examinations, and intercourse is often painful or impossible. Compared with other sexual pain disorders such as vulvodynia and vestibulodynia, the treatment of vaginismus has the potential for a high rate of success. Stratifying the severity of vaginismus allows the clinician to choose among numerous treatment options and to better understand what the patient is experiencing. Vaginismus is both a physical and an emotional disorder. In the more severe cases of vaginismus women (and men) complain that attempted intercourse is like "hitting a wall" suggestive of spasm at the level of the introitus. The emotional fallout resulting from this needs to be addressed in any form of treatment applied.