Dyspareunia and vaginismus are disorders that involve pain and sex. Pain conditions damage sex. It may lead to the emergence of accompanying secondary sexual disorders, negative sexual behavior, avoidant or harmful behavior, deterioration of the relationship, decrease in personal self-confidence and mood changes. These further increase the pain.
Dyspareunia is defined as recurrent or persistent pain during sexual intercourse, not only due to vaginismus or lack of lubrication. Pain is also present in other penetration situations such as fingers, tampons or gynecological examination. Dyspareunia Its prevalence is considered to be approximately 14% among women. Although it is thought to be seen more in menopause due to changes such as decrease in vaginal elasticity and lubrication, it has been found to occur most frequently between the ages of 18-24. It is also wrong to consider sex more than pain in the treatment of dyspareunia. Vaginismus, distal (the part that opens to the outside) ) 1/3 is recurrent or permanent difficulty in vaginal intercourse due to involuntary muscle spasm in the vagina. It is often difficult to distinguish vaginismus from dyspareunia because both cause pain and contraction of the pelvic floor muscles. Some define vaginismus as the severe and phobic end of dyspareunia. What is specific to vaginismus is that it causes a fear of sexual intercourse that causes both behavioral and emotional phobia. The frequency of vaginismus is around 1% in the society. Significant personal stress and difficulty in interpersonal relationships are diagnostic criteria for vaginismus and dyspareunia.
Although dyspareunia and vaginismus seem to be women's problems, they are actually the couple's problem. Sometimes the couple may seek therapy together. Women often think they can attend therapy alone. Correcting this perception is the first step in treatment interventions. Couples should be motivated and undergo therapy together. However, there may be exceptions and the woman can be treated alone.
Since women with these problems are difficult to treat, it is important to be evaluated by a gynecologist who is interested in the evaluation and treatment of painful intercourse. Women with vaginismus may never have been examined gynecologically before and They may think this is impossible. However, a gynecologist interested in the subject can perform the examination.
As a result; It is not impossible to solve visible primary problems, as well as more important secondary problems that are hidden or unrecognized. What should not be forgotten is the sentence;
"YOU ARE NOT BORN A WOMAN, YOU BECOME A WOMAN." SİBEL MALKOÇ
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