In this article published in the Nov./Dec. 2004 issue of Today's Christian Woman by our own Kate Cardwell (Kate now serves as an online counselor/moderator in our Vaginismus Community Center - Private Forums), Kate discusses her experience with Secondary Vaginismus/Dyspareunia and the impacts to her marriage:
"What happens when the process of "becoming one" in marriage brings pain, not pleasure? Or when every attempt at intercourse induces intense burning and the sensation of being torn apart inside? Many women live with an invisible handicap that robs them and their spouse of the enjoyment of sexual intercourse. It's called vaginismus, and it's possibly the most common cause of female sexual pain you've never heard of.
Commonly misdiagnosed, vaginismus is the involuntary and unconscious spasm of the muscles surrounding the vagina, making penetration painful or impossible. Estimates suggest that in North America alone, hundreds of thousands of women suffer from vaginismus to some degree. Statistics are hard to gather because many never come forward due to shame and embarrassment. Victims suffer in silence for years, never realizing they can find help.
My journey with vaginismus began 12 years ago. My husband, Brian*, and I had been married eight years when I gave birth to our second child. Labor was traumatic, and the baby was finally taken by C-section. After my recovery and with two babies in the house, my husband and I were tired but eager to resume the joy and comfort of intimacy.
Instead, sex brought anything but joy and comfort. Every time we had intercourse, I experienced intense burning pain. While I wanted to say "yes" to intimacy, my body said "no."
When my physician examined me, he found nothing physically wrong and said the pain should subside. But it didn't. In fact, it got worse. I didn't know what was happening, and fear kept me from telling Brian for two years. Many times I hid the tears. I thought if I told him, he'd be afraid to touch" Read Full Article at www.christianitytoday.com »
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It has hurt me to have sex for several years now. I had an exam and was told I don't have any infections or whatever, but I never feel comfortable about asking about the pain..Truthfully, I was beginning to think it was me. (in my head) I didn't understand how it hurt so bad going in but then nothing everything felt good. The bad part is that little bit of pain in the beginning is enough to make you not wanna have sex! Which can lead to allot of uncomfortable feelings when you are with someone. After reading these articles I am convinced I am suffering from Vaginismus. I gotta admit that it feels good to know it isn't just me and that there is others who have this problem. However for me it never feels like a burning just more I don't know just painful!!! and always right at the beginning which is weird cause its barley in at all??? But then after its been inserted all the way (which takes forever because of the pain) I am fine and the pain is gone??
i relate completely to mistys problem. i also never knew i had a problem i thot thats how sex is supposed to be. the pain for me is at the beginning of penetration then after that its fyn.its after my boyfriend also experienced pain that he discovered this website. the only relief is that its treatable tho i dont know wat to do yet!!!!!!!!!
I would like to have the book I think it will me to teach others and be a better lover. Thanks
I hate have sex because of all the pain it hurts so bad I cry
Hi Sue, Thank you for your comment. I tried to reach you by email, but my message wouldn't go through. If you would like to discuss this any further, please email us at help@vaginismus.com any time. Kind regards, Meg Customer Service
Comments/Feedback
When i first started having sex it hurt quite badly. So me and my partner decided to try anal sex to see if i enjoyed it more. I did, and we had anal quite often instead of girl 'girl' sex. We decided to try girl sex again, and i began to enjoy it. I got thrush a few months ago, and after that girl sex has burned me and left me in agonizing pain. We tried to have anal again but for some reason that hurts me even more. I don't know what to do, i feel so ashamed and feel like i'm letting him down
The Pain Is Soo Bad When i Have Sex, I Dnt Know What Is Wrong? Pleasee Help ..
Hi everyone!
I'm new to http://www.vaginismus.com.
Hope I can be a regular here!
Hi, I have had pain during and after intercourse for several years. I have seen doctors and they are stumpted. I don't have vaginismus. I'm not tight. It definitely hurts during penetration and afterwards. I wish I had some hope to great sex.
My partner complains of pains during sex and after sex, what can we do to previent it?
I discoverd the tightness of my pelvic muscle last month,please the pain is really too that am afraid to have sex again,my dear please help me
Doctors thought I had Vaginismus but actually its a different pain to what you are talking about here. No pain on the way in, but I have pain when my partner hits the back wall meaning that he is touching the stump of my uterus following removal of my uterus during my hysterectomy years ago.
After lots of visits to the doctor I got referrered to a sexual rehabilitation nurse at the gynacology bit of the hospital. We spoke about sex and she gave me a set of 4 dialators to insert myself. It really helped. I imagine big wide open spaces when I use them and make sure they are warm and have lubricated first. I also have a warm shower before to relax me. I have started being able to have sex with my boyfriend of 3 years. Its a bit painful but not unbearable like it was before and as I learn to relax more i'm sure it will be easier. We've so far only managed twice in the past 3 months but thats real progress after 3 years. Go and see a specialist and let them give you some advice and talk to you before you start on the dialators. Good luck!
I've been dating this guy for over 4 months now and the sex is starting to hurt soo bad, and it wasn't because I wasn't lubricated enough, or took it too fast, or I wasn't excited enough because I was all three and really wanted him inside of me. But when we tried, it hurt INCREDIBLY bad! I asked him to stick it in a little then wait and try pushing it in a little more and waiting but my body would not let him get any further in than the head. I've also realized that before the pain got so bad, instead of pulling my legs towards my body to make it easier for his to slide in I've actually kept my foot flat on the ground and squeezing my knees together because it hurt and didn't want him going any further. I wish I could go to the doctor or obg/yn and get check out, because there are a couple other things I need checked out too, but I'm 18 and I don't know the name of my doctor, don't know if my parents even have insurance, and I'm way too embarrassed to ask my mom because I can't just ask, she'll want to know why, and I can't tell her my vagina hurts when I try to have sex. And also my boobs have been EXTREMELY sore to the touch. I doubt I'm pregnant tho cuz I think I just got my period, a week early, but me and my boyfriend have been having a lot of unprotected sex lately. But back to the vagina problems, everyday I keep thinking the pain will be gone and we'll be able to have enjoyable sex again but it seems the pain keeps getting worse. I need help! I literally almost cried when it hurt SOOO bad.
I have been married for four years, and sex was great...until I had my first child. She was pulled out with forcups and I tore quite badly requiring many stitches. I was told to wait 6 weeks before having sex. When we next tried, It felt like I was splitting open. We waited another few months and tried again, but again it hurt worse than giving birth. He pushed all the way in and it hurt right up inside (felt like he was bruising my ovaries) as well as around that skin between the vagina and anus (where I had torn). I spoke to a doctor about this, and he told me to get drunk and try (didnt examine even tho I asked). This didnt work. The doctor then put me on anti-anxiety tablets, which also didnt work. I had another baby a year ago and hoped things would go back to normal, but no. Now my husband thinks my cries of pain are pleasure, and we only do it spooning style so I can hide the tears. I will ask the doctor if this could possibly be the problem, but still, I have lost faith in fixing this horrible problem. It even hurts days later on the inside where I cant stand upright. I hide it from the husband still. He will only blame himself.
I'm 18 and I've been with the same man for 2 years now and I can't have sex it hurts too much I've had sex 4 times and I just can't do it I'm so scared and they guy I'm with now I've done it with him once and I've found out I haave herpes but still I can't have sex everyone tells me to go to the doctor but I'm so scared to get a pap smear because it hurts so much I can't even have my boyfriends pinky finger in it my boyfriend is kinda getting mad but he understands and I'm just really hurt because I can't even have sex with my boyfriend the only time I want sex is on my period and I think its just so grosss so idk what to do I'm just so sad and scared. Someone please tell me what to do please u can email me at mmolly684@gmail.com
I have read the other comments and it's so relieving to know that there are other women that suffers from painful intercourse and I am not alone. Just like misty I too experience pain at the beginning of intercourse and eventually everything feels fine but after me and my husband are done making love I feel really sore. I have expressed this problem to him but of course he doesn't understand. But he is very patient and understanding when it comes to taking it slow when we start! I want to know will this pain happen forever and will I ever get a break from it. I have even tried to have an alcoholic beverage before intercourse to see if that would kind of numb the pain but that doesnt even work. If there is something I could try please help me because I am sick of going through this pain. My husband has a pet name for me that I want to get rid of and that's his little virgin. I want the pain to be over ASAP!!!
hi i had a section in sept 09 had my son then i was ablbe to have sex after then i fell preg again had her sept 10 and since that day of section with her i cant have sex my hubby cant even get in coz i scream out it now 2012 and he still cant get in plz help me i wanna be able to enjoy my sex life but it hurts to much