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Vaginal Dilators Q&A: What do the experts have to say about dilator therapy?
When coming to terms with a challenging health condition in life, naturally you will look for the perfect solution to your problem. One of the key factors in finding a solution is good research, and this should come from authoritative sources – which generally means that it has come from (or is backed by) experts in that field. We know that if you’ve come across vaginal dilators as a solution to your health problem, you probably have questions about them. What are vaginal dilators for? Is my problem serious enough for me to need one? How do dilators work? Who are they suitable for? In fact, these are some of the most common questions asked about vaginal dilators. Thanks to our wealth of knowledge and experience in the area of women’s health and vaginal dilators, we are able to answer these questions for you and offer you the solutions you’re looking for. We thought it would be a great idea to complement our services by collating some valuable information straight from the mouths of clinicians and Doctors who specialize in this field. So we came up with a little Q&A backed by the experts in order to address some of the most common questions around women’s sexual health and using vaginal dilators… Do I really have a serious health problem? It’s surprisingly easy to convince yourself that you’re overreacting, or that certain kinds of dysfunction are common enough to be considered normal. Sometimes the opposite is true: you might feel that you’re the only one, or that there’s something inherently wrong with you. Another issue is that the topic can feel rather sensitive, which might dissuade you from seeking help - even though you would be much happier in the long run. Perhaps the journey ahead seems difficult or never-ending, and this puts you off starting it. One way or another it is important to give your body what it needs so that you can have the peaceful life you deserve. Here’s what Healther Jeffcoat (Doctor of Physical Therapy) has to say about this: “Far too often women have been told by doctors and even some sex therapists that the concerns and physical problems they have are normal. In fact, they are common. Peeing on yourself, having painful intercourse, having to go to the bathroom 10+ times per day, and many other symptoms that women experience throughout their lives are far from normal. I want women to know that their problems are real and happen to many other women but should not be normalized. Common does not equal normal.” Heather Edwards and Tracy Sher, both Physical Therapists, want you to know this: “You are not “broken”- be kind to yourself through this process. You may have times of frustration but there is a lot of hope.” What are vaginal dilators for? Our entire website is dedicated to illuminating women’s health problems and educating on vaginal dilators and other solutions, so on this occasion we’ll hand the baton over to Heather Jeffcoat and Lauren Streicher for some concise insights: “Vaginal dilators are a medical tool used to either relax and stretch the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissues to reduce pain or help desensitize hypersensitive vaginal tissue.” - Heather Jeffcoat (DPT) “Vaginal dilators have two purposes. One is to get the vagina used to having something inside of it. Even if the size of your vagina is normal, painful sex initiates a cycle of pain–fear–muscle spasm–more pain that results in the vagina constricting at any attempt to have intercourse. Dilators are often needed after the initial cause of the pain has been eliminated to erase muscle memory that has kept your pelvic floor in protective mode. Vaginal dilators are also a way to gently and gradually stretch tissues that are tight and have lost their elasticity, which is often the case if a woman has vaginal dryness and thinning from hormonal changes, skin conditions (such as lichen sclerosis) or her vagina has been altered by radiation or surgery. Scarring and shrinkage of the vaginal opening is almost always reversible! The other important advantage to using a dilator is that you will know when you are ready for intercourse.” - Lauren Streicher (MD). How do vaginal dilators work? You might be wondering what vaginal dilators actually do in order to solve your pelvic health problems… perhaps you’re unsure whether vaginal dilators actually work. The below experts can put your mind at ease: “Dilators work by desensitizing the central nervous system and by providing trigger point release (intentional pressure to points of muscular tension for the relief of pain, much like in your neck or shoulders),” says Robert Echenberg (MD). Vuvatech patented magnetic vaginal dilators were created for this purpose. The strategically placed magnets encourage blood to flow to the troublesome areas thus accelerating healing. They desensitize painful nerves and relax tension in the muscles and tissues. Here’s a take on vaginal dilators from Michael Krychman (MD), Marisa C. Liu (MD), and Daniel Meller (BS, MS on the Contemporary OB/GYN Journal): “These therapeutic medical devices (vaginal dilators) can be used by patients to effectively treat pelvic pain and anxiety related to intercourse. Proper usage is thought to recondition and facilitate an adaptive body/brain connection to eliminate anticipatory anxiety and pelvic discomfort or pain that women often experience in anticipation of intercourse.” Who needs vaginal dilators? Vaginal dilators are the answer to a surprising number of pelvic health conditions, from dyspareunia (painful sex) to vaginismus, vulvodynia, vaginal atrophy, vaginal stenosis and more. Jennifer Wilder (MD) and Emma McGeorge shed some more light on this: “Dilators can also be used by patients undergoing radiation for cervical, vaginal, endometrial, or uterine cancer to help prevent the treatment from altering the length/shape of the vaginal canal.” – Jennifer Wilder (MD) “People experiencing painful sex (dyspareunia) or vaginismus can use vaginal dilators to retrain the body to relax when presented with stimulus around the vulva and vaginal entrance (this is also known as desensitisation therapy). Dilators can help lessen pain and muscle spasms, and help people learn how to control, and relax, their pelvic floor muscles. They can also help a person warm up to sex if they’re feeling apprehensive or need to prepare their tissues and muscles,” Emma McGeorge, The Pelvic Hub We hope you found these experts’ quotes inspiring! If you’re still unsure about whether your condition warrants using vaginal dilators, Vuvatech will be happy to help. Feel free to use our search bar to find a library of articles and information relating to your condition, or drop us a line and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction. Do you need to order vaginal dilators so you can start your pelvic floor therapy process? Made in the USA. Visit www.vuvatech.com VuVa Dilator Company Helpful Links: How do Neodymium Vaginal Dilators work? 7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen How to use Vaginal Dilators How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life! Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators Tara Langdale Schmidt is the inventor of the VuVa Dilator Company. She has pelvic floor dysfunction herself and wanted to create a dilator set that is made in America that women can trust. VuVatech has been in business since 2014 and has helped over 50,000 women all over the globe. She patented the Neodymium Vaginal Dilator, that is clinically proven to help with blood flow and nerve pain. Podcast Episode 22: Tara Langdale-Schmidt What’s on Your Vagenda? Click here
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Tips for Successful Vaginal Dilator Treatment
Vaginal dilators have for a long time been considered one of the most effective treatments for a wide range of pelvic floor and sexual disorders. One of the most common reasons for using vaginal dilators is to restore normal sexual function, often including the reduction or elimination of pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia). Sexual health professionals are usually the first to recommend vaginal dilator treatment for women presenting with such symptoms. Vaginal dilators come in many forms, such as plastic, silicone, latex, and medical-grade materials. You can purchase them individually according to size requirements, or as a set. Some have special features, such as our patented range with strategically-placed magnets, which increase blood flow and sooth painful nerves. Dilators are able to create a brain-body connection that reduces the anxiety and pain associated with both the anticipation and the act of sexual intercourse for women with issues in this regard. Vaginal dilators are popular with postmenopausal women, those who have completed a course of cancer treatment (chemotherapy), and women with pelvic pain disorders such as vaginismus or vulvodynia. However this list is far from exhaustive, since dilators rehabilitate women suffering from a long list of pelvic conditions. Is vaginal dilator treatment always successful? Studies and statistics say that yes, vaginal dilator treatment is generally successful, and this is certainly confirmed by our customers, as you can see on our testimonials page. However, we recognize that ‘success’ is not always black and white. When managing and overcoming sensitive and complex conditions, it goes without saying that successful treatment can depend upon various factors. Similarly, what constitutes success can be very subjective – or you could say that there are degrees of success. Furthermore, there are no clinically proven standardized protocols for women who wish to use dilators, which leaves many guessing about the best ways to use their dilators for the most successful outcome. At VuvaTech we want to be sure that all of our customers get the best possible use from our products, so we have compiled some helpful data and tips on best use of vaginal dilators. Factors involved in successful vaginal dilator treatment Among the factors that contribute to successful dilator treatment are: Adopting effective tried-and-tested protocols Consistency and correct frequency of treatment Attitude (for example, compliance to protocols and the will to be persistent) Longevity of dilator treatment Quality of vaginal dilators and adjunctive treatments User behavior is a primary factor in optimal success, yet aside from the occasional clinical study, this is something all too often overlooked. For this reason there isn’t a huge amount of data out there on how user behavior affects the success of vaginal dilator treatment, nor how successful clinical assistance has been for those who sought it. Fortunately there is some, as outlined in this PubMed article on vaginal dilation, which summarizes the results of various other vaginal dilator research studies. The researchers reviewed and summarized 29 English articles to come to the conclusions therein. A large proportion of the summary data on user behavior was derived from early data from a 3-month survey of women using a vaginal dilator called ‘Milli’, an electronic dilator that gradually expands at a rate controlled by the patient. Patients described feeling emotions such as anxiety and frustration during the process, which is typical when starting out with vaginal dilators. Encouragingly they also indicated that using the dilators made them feel empowered and optimistic. We have used this information in conjunction with our wealth of experience on women’s sexual health issues and vaginal dilators to bring you insights into best practices when using vaginal dilators. Typical dilator user behaviors The PubMed article above indicated the following user behaviors on average: Patients used the vaginal dilators for an average of 2.72 days every week The average patient’s dilator session lasted for between 6 and 10 minutes 3% of patients dilated mostly in the evening time, or at bedtime, and 96.8% did so in the bedroom It is important to note that the above factors were not cited as being part of the trend toward improved patient outcomes. In our experience it is very important that dilators are used regularly, and that the session times are appropriate in length. Conversely, it is of no particular importance when and where you choose to dilate, except that it is wise to be in a private and comfortable setting so that you can relax fully. User behaviors that did indicate improved patient outcomes in the PubMed article were: Practicing mindfulness (meditation) Listening to soothing music Dilating for a period of more than 3 months Although watching TV or videos during vaginal dilator sessions was cited as a common user behavior, best results came from listening to soothing, relaxing music, and meditation. Our top tips for dilator success Based on our experience and feedback from customers who had success with our dilators, we recommend the following protocol to achieve the best results from your vaginal dilator treatment: Use your dilator at least 5 times per week, up to 7 times per week Use your dilator for between 20 and 30 minutes each time Use your dilator once or twice per day (you can decrease frequency once you see improvement) Continue using your dilator for as long as is necessary to drastically improve your condition, before dropping to a ‘maintenance frequency’ (e.g. once or twice per week ongoing, if needed) We know that it can be difficult to use a dilator for 20 minutes when you first start using them, so we recommend being persistent. Everyone progresses at different rates, and everyone has different pain levels and conditions to deal with. You will be able to tolerate the process much more easily with time. It is important to keep at it, doing it for as long as you can stand it until you work your way up to the 30-minute mark. As the PubMed article mentions, listening to soothing music or meditating while you use your dilator will bring about the best results, mainly because this puts your mind and body in a relaxed state so that you are more able to move past your comfort zone. Adjunctive treatments worth considering are vaginal moisturizers and personal lubricants, local estrogen products (if prescribed by a doctor), and pelvic floor physical therapy with a recommended practitioner if you are not improving over time. It is worth noting that in the study using the Milli dilators, over 70% of participants were using them with no direct guidance from a qualified clinician, suggesting that optimal results are often achieved without this. To summarize, provided that you are persistent with your vaginal dilator treatment and dilate regularly, use quality products while using relaxation aids (if needed), and incorporate beneficial adjunctive treatments into your protocol, there is no reason you won’t achieve excellent results! Liu M, Juravic M, Mazza G, et al. Vaginal Dilators: Issues and Answers. Sex Med Rev 2020;XX:XXX-XXX. VuVa Helpful Links: How do Neodymium Vaginal Dilators work? 7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen How to use Vaginal Dilators How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life! Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators
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Vulvodynia Exercises Besides Dilators
Given that around 1 in 4 women are victims of sexual pain and dysfunction, it’s safe to say that too many women are suffering. Vulvodynia is not an easy condition to deal with, but studies conclude that up to 28% of adult females have it at some point. Vulvodynia pain can adversely affect wellbeing, physical comfort and your relationships… so naturally you’ll want to do everything in your power to distance yourself from this troublesome and painful problem once and for all. Many women use vaginal dilators as part of their treatment for vulvodynia, and there’s no doubt that they can bring great results. Chronic pain does not have to be a way of life, but the reality is that it can take time and effort to overcome the symptoms of vulvodynia. We wanted to help by recommending a few vulvodynia exercises besides dilators, which you can read about in this article. Which exercises will relieve vulvodynia symptoms? The fact is that you can get great relief from vulvodynia pain through various methods. Some of the favored treatments for vulvodynia are multi-modal therapy and pelvic floor physical therapy, both of which consist of helpful exercises under the guidance of a trained professional. When it comes to exercises for vulvodynia besides dilators, you will be focusing on the pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor dysfunction commonly exacerbates (and sometimes causes) vulvodynia. However, if you have vulvodynia it is important to recognize the reason for your pelvic floor dysfunction so that you choose the right types of exercises. This could mean the difference between healing or worsening the problem; it’s easy to assume that strengthening kegels are the answer, but actually there are times when kegels might be a bad idea. For instance, pelvic floor muscle weakness (known as a hypotonic pelvic floor) could be contributing to your symptoms. In that case you would want to strengthen the pelvic floor to find relief… but the thing is that a tight pelvic floor (hypertonic) is more commonly behind the problem. So instead of strengthening exercises, a hypertonic pelvic floor requires relaxation exercises. Your best bet is to have a professional (such as a pelvic floor physical therapist) assess you before embarking on any particular type of exercises. Vulvodynia exercises besides dilators Since a hypertonic pelvic floor is most likely, we’ll take a look at exercises for relaxing your pelvic floor muscles first. You may have increased tone, which can result in depleted blood flow and oxygen to your pelvic floor muscles. In turn this can cause accumulation of lactic acid. The lactic acid might be causing your vulvar pain, burning sensations and tenderness. Other indicators of a tight pelvic floor are dyspareunia (painful sex) urinary problems or constipation, hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Exercises to relax the pelvic floor Pelvic floor stretches and abdominal breathing are great for relaxing your pelvic floor. Some of the best stretches are actually yoga poses, such as: Child’s pose Cobra pose Garland pose Happy baby pose Bound angle pose Half Lord of the Fishes pose If you’re not familiar with yoga postures, we have made a step-by-step guide to these pelvic floor stretches. We hope you find it useful! You might also want to read about the best abdominal breathing techniques, which you can find here in our article on how to relax the pelvic floor. Exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor If you do have problems with pelvic floor muscle weakness, you will want to do strengthening kegels instead (different protocols of squeezing and releasing). Electronic kegels can also be great vulvodynia exercises besides dilators, although you may need to visit a pelvic floor PT for these. An electronic pelvic toner stimulates nerves for pain relief, and is sometimes used in conjunction with vaginal probes or skin electrodes on your ankle or lower back. Another option (which might be part of your pelvic floor physical therapy) would be biofeedback with pelvic floor exercises. The electrical biofeedback machine scores your muscles strength while you squeeze a vaginal probe. If you are someone who does need to strengthen your pelvic floor, this can help you to perform kegels more effectively, as well as monitoring your progress. Once you have understood the cause of your tight pelvic floor, you’ll be ready to start your vulvodynia exercises. You may find that doing these in conjunction with vaginal dilators is beneficial too, of course. If so, feel free to get in touch if you would like any advice on the dilators in our range. Do you need to order vaginal dilators so you can start your pelvic floor therapy process? Made in the USA. Visit www.vuvatech.com VuVa Helpful Links: How do Neodymium Vaginal Dilators work? 7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen How to use Vaginal Dilators How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life! Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators Tara Langdale Schmidt is the inventor of the VuVa Dilator Company. She has pelvic floor dysfunction herself and wanted to create a dilator set that is made in America that women can trust. VuVatech has been in business since 2014 and has helped over 50,000 women all over the globe. She patented the Neodymium Vaginal Dilator, that is clinically proven to help with blood flow and nerve pain.
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Painful intercourse medical term: dyspareunia causes, treatments
For most people, the medical term for painful intercourse, dyspareunia is unfamiliar. For those who suffer from pelvic pain, you're all too familiar. Dyspareunia is when women experience pain during vaginal penetration, a pelvic exam, or even when inserting a tampon. The penetration pain can occur before, during, or after sexual activity. While it's a more significant concern in women's health, men can have dyspareunia, too. Symptoms Sexual pain symptoms can vary from person to person. The penetration pain may be felt in the vagina, bladder, or urethra. It may come with an aching, itching, or burning sensation. Some sufferers report a feeling similar to menstrual cramps (a stabbing pain). The pain may occur: during or after intercourse when penetrated deep in the pelvis during sexual activity when inserting a tampon after pain-free intercourse happens only with certain people or situations Causes of dyspareunia Determining the underlying cause can be difficult for those with dyspareunia. Sometimes there's no discernible reason, and other times it's connected to a physical condition or emotional state. Medical professions can divide the pain into two categories: outer and inner pain. Outer pain If you experience entry pain in the vaginal genitals or anus, then this is dyspareunia outer pain. The causes of pain in the outer area may come from different conditions. Vulvodynia This condition is unexplained chronic pain at the vaginal entrance that lasts more than three months. When the pain is around the vaginal opening, it's also known as vulvar vestibulitis. The burning pain associated with vulvodynia makes sitting for long periods or sexual intercourse unbearable. Lack of lubrication Experiencing painful intercourse may come from a lack of lubrication. The reasons for the feminine dryness may come from various reasons, including: not enough foreplay breastfeeding smoking excessive stress cancer treatment (pelvic radiation) rigorous exercise removal of the ovaries taking birth control Inflammation, skin disorder or infection Dyspareunia may be caused by inflammation, skin disorders, or infections. Inflammation makes the vaginal skin tight, sore and throbbing leading to painful intercourse. Skin disorders, such as eczema and psoriasis, can cause painful bumps and itching in the genital area. When scratched or rubbed against, the condition worsens. Vaginial infections, including urinary tract infections, yeast infections, or sexually transmitted diseases, can cause dyspareunia as well. Vaginismus This condition is uncontrollable muscle spasms in the pelvic floor muscles. It can make it impossible for any penetration from sexual activity, tampon insertion, or undergoing a gynecological exam. Congenital abnormality While rare, women may have a congenital abnormality that makes sexual intercourse painful, including a retroverted uterus or vaginal agenesis. Vaginal agenesis is when women have an incomplete or missing vagina. Congenital concerns can affect the genitals, vulva, cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes. The diagnosis may occur at birth, during puberty, or when becoming sexually active. Inner pain Pain during intercourse may have deep pain inside the vagina or anus that has a severe impact on sexual health. While the exact cause can be hard to determine, the following factors may play a role. Certain illnesses or conditions Dyspareunia may have a direct link to physical causes and conditions, including: interstitial cystitis pelvic inflammatory disease ovarian cyst endometriosis irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) hemorrhoids If you suspect you're experiencing any of these illnesses, speak to your healthcare professional as soon as possible. Menopause Menopause is a period in a woman's life when her reproductive years come to an end. While a normal part of the life cycle, the leading cause is plummeting estrogen levels. Estrogen is the female hormone responsible for many essential functions, including fertility and the menstrual cycle. It also helps with lubrication, supple skin, and feeling balanced. Living with depleted estrogen levels results in vaginal dryness for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Surgeries or medical treatments If you've had pelvic surgery, you may have had surgeries or treatments that affect the vaginal wall. Breast cancer or prostate cancer treatments usually include pelvic radiation to remove and prevent cancer cells from returning. Pelvic floor radiation can change the shape of the vagina and leave the vaginal walls dry and papery, making sexual intercourse extremely painful. Emotional factors The cause of painful intercourse may come from emotional factors, including psychological issues and stress. Both can wreak havoc with your sex life. Psychological problems may stem from a history of sexual abuse or experiencing a traumatic event, such as a physical assault or attack. When you experience sexual abuse, it can have long term effects on sexual behavior and satisfaction. Stress from your job, family, or mental health may make sex painful, as well. Diagnosis & treatment options The first step is to see your health care practitioner for a diagnosis. Your doctor takes a complete medical history, conducts a pelvic examination, and may send vaginal samples off for testing; it may be that two conditions may be the cause. In that case, you need a differential diagnosis to determine which one is causing dyspareunia. Undergoing behavioral therapy Decreasing pain associated with dyspareunia may happen with therapy. Popular choices are cognitive therapy, sex therapy, or desensitization therapy. Therapists give you medical advice and treatments to overcome female sexual pain through talk therapy, mental health exercises, biofeedback. Vaginal dilators One of the best health solutions for treating painful sex in women and men is vaginal dilators or trainers. Vaginal dilators are tube-shaped devices that resemble a sex toy but are proven medical treatment for dyspareunia. America's safest dilator company, VuVatech, offers dilators in various sizes to help ease the searing pain and discomfort associated with painful sexual intercourse. In the privacy of your own home, you use vaginal dilators to stretch and relieve painful vaginal tissue and walls. There are no side effects of using vaginal dilators, and treatment is at your speed and comfort level. Thousands of people trust VuVatech dilators as one of the best home remedies for dyspareunia. In a double-blind placebo study by Physician Care Clinical Research, 80% of all participants reported a reduction in pain after undergoing treatment with VuVa™ magnetic vaginal dilators. Try vaginal dilators today, to help you overcome dyspareunia. VuVa Helpful Links: 7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen How to use Vaginal Dilators How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life! Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators
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Vulvodynia Treatment: Causes, Symptoms & Care
Are you looking for a vulvodynia treatment that works? For years, you've tried everything to reduce the burning and stinging associated with vulvodynia, but haven't been able to find relief. You're not alone. Eight percent of all women afflicted with vulvodynia never find a cure for that pelvic pain. While 8% may not seem like a large number at first, it translates into over 13 million women in the United States having to bear the vulvar pain of vulvodynia. (1) Vulvodynia places a significant hardship on emotional wellbeing, society, the health care system, and significant others. In this article, we'll discuss vulvodynia treatment, causes, symptoms, and care to relieve pain for the millions of women suffering in silence. What is vulvodynia? According to the National Vulvodynia Association, vulvodynia is chronic pelvic pain in the vulva with no known etiology for three months or longer. (2) Women with vulvodynia report varying levels of chronic pain in different places in the vulva. In some cases, women experience pain solely in one area of the vulvar tissue, referred to as localized vulvodynia. The specific pain points may include the external genitals like the clitoris or the vestibule (vaginal opening). Generalized vulvodynia is when the pain occurs on the entire vulva. The severity and constancy of the pain varies, too. It can be chronic, during certain activities such as sexual intercourse or when applying pressure while inserting a tampon. Also, the pain can be present with or without touch. When discussing the pain with their health care professionals, women often don't report it as pain, but rather as stabbing, rawness, burning, itching, and tearing. How is vulvodynia treated? The American College of Obstetricians says vulvodynia treatment should be individualized and can be treated by one or more of the followings ways: (3) pelvic floor physical therapy with vaginal dilation medications including oral, topical, and injectable biofeedback training dietary changes sexual counseling cognitive behavioral therapy surgery Relieving pain with vaginal dilation The American Family of Physicians states that physical therapy may help relax and strengthen pelvic muscles. (4) Vaginal Dilator Therapy is a type of physical therapy that uses vaginal dilators to treat and cure vulvodynia. In a clinical trial by the Physician Care Clinical Research, 80% of all women reported less pelvic pain using VuVa™ magnetic vaginal dilators. VuVa™ magnetic vaginal dilators help stretch and lengthen the vagina naturally. Each dilator has Neodymium magnets that help pull fresh oxygenated blood to pelvic floor muscles and surrounding nerves. It creates a positive energy field that draws out any acidity in the pelvic floor. The nourishing energy rejuvenates the nerve endings to promote faster healing while soothing pain. Over 30,000 women around the world, suffering from vulvodynia and other pelvic pain conditions, have found relief with VuVatech vaginal dilators. The pelvic floor physical therapy happens in the privacy of your home without a physical therapist, at a pace that works for you. What are the causes of vulvodynia? The exact cause of vulvodynia is unknown. It isn't caused by an underlying condition, such as a sexually transmitted disease, skin disease, or cancer. Each woman is different, but the following factors increase the risk of vulvodynia. It's also essential to remember that one or more of these factors may be working together. (5) Inflammation and tenderness in the vulva Damaging and weakening of the vulva nerves Genetic predisposition Environmental allergic reactions to certain foods or chemicals Long-term exposure to infection or trauma Hormonal changes due to menopause or birth control Debilitation of the pelvic floor muscles Provoked vestibulodynia may occur from having sexual activity, a pelvic exam, and prolonged sitting. Horseback riding and wearing tight clothing may also "provoke" the pain. Other risk factors include undergoing pelvic radiation therapy. Pelvic radiation therapy is a treatment for women with certain types of cancers, including the breast and cervix. The process can cause painful scarring and shortening of the vagina. When this happens, the vaginal tissue becomes thin, dry, and tight. What are the symptoms of vulvodynia? Vulvodynia symptoms vary from person to person, but characteristics include an itching, irritating, burning, or stinging sensation. The vulvar tissue may give the appearance of being inflamed or may look normal. It’s thought that vulvodynia is a neuropathic pain, which means the surrounding nerve fibers in the vulvar send irregular messages. Hypersensitive nerve endings are a result. While vulvodynia isn't life-threatening, it can prevent women from engaging in ordinary or everyday activities. In some cases, it can lead to depression. How to care for vulvodynia? Women with vulvar pain do have options for care. Using vaginal dilators to stretch the vagina is a safe and effective way to treat the pain syndrome associated with vulvodynia. Women can also help ease and prevent symptoms by making dietary and lifestyle choices. Clothing choices: Try to wear 100% cotton underwear, avoid tight underpants and pants, and forgo wearing underwear at night. Personal care choices: Avoid products (shampoos, perfumes, detergents, deodorants) with fragrances, dyes, and chemicals that may irritate the skin and vulva. Bathing considerations: Don't clean the vulva with anything but water and after bathing dry thoroughly. You can also apply petroleum jelly or preservative-free oil to help preserve skin moisture and nourish the skin. Sexual activities: You can use lubricants during sexual intercourse, but don't use flavored oils or ones with a cooling or warming sensation. Also, add more foreplay into your sexual routine to help with penetration. Other care tips: After going to the bathroom, rinse and dry the vulva. Also, avoid douching or applying anything inside the vagina that might irritate. Switch sanitary pads to 100% cotton pads to prevent irritation. Another way to soothe vulvodynia symptoms is to apply cool gel packs to the vulva. How is vulvodynia diagnosed? Scheduling an appointment with your doctor or gynecologist is the best way to diagnose vulvodynia. During the first meeting, your physician will ask you personal questions regarding your health and pain symptoms. It's essential to gain a full picture of your particular situation. In most cases, the doctor will use a cotton swab to test for pain points in the vulvar. Your doctor wants to determine how mild or how severe the vulvar pain is for you. The swab test can be the most stressful part of the exam. Your doctor may order additional tests to rule out a yeast infection or sexually transmitted disease by taking a sample of vaginal discharge. If you're suffering from vulvodynia, it's time to find a cure that works for you. Using vaginal dilators daily can help provide long-lasting relief. When you’re ready, we can help you. Other VuVa Helpful Links: 7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen How to use Vaginal Dilators How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life! Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4014358/ https://www.nva.org/what-is-vulvodynia/ https://www.acog.org/Clinical-Guidance-and-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Gynecologic-Practice/Persistent-Vulvar-Pain https://www.aafp.org/afp/1999/0315/p1561.html https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/189076.php#treatment
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Vulvodynia Diagnosis: What is the Q-TIP test?
Any woman who has suffered from vulvodynia pain will confirm that it is absolutely debilitating and profoundly impacts many aspects of life. Women with vulvodynia must also suffer the loss of pleasure from sex, difficulty exercising, walking or sitting, and the fear of unexpected flare-ups with no discernable cause. Needless to say, social life and working life can become difficult to manage. Do you have vulvodynia? The answer may not be clear, but we are here to help with a Q&A on vulvodynia. This article aims to answer the most pertinent questions about vulvodynia, focusing mainly on vulvodynia diagnosis methods such as the Q-tip test. We will also cover the causes of vulvodynia and the most telling vulvodynia symptoms… What is the Q-tip test? The Q-tip test, also known as the cotton swab test, is one of the go-to vulvodynia tests performed by women’s health clinicians. They consider Q-tip testing to be one of the most accurate and necessary tools in the assessment of sexual pain; in particular, pain caused by vulvodynia and provoked vestibulodynia. Q-tip testing involves a cotton swab or Q-tip to apply pressure to various (carefully mapped-out) areas within the vulvar and vestibular regions. This is done randomly, rather than in a specific order, so that the specialist can determine pain and sensitization levels. How do I know if I have vulvodynia? You may come to assume that your problem is vulvodynia through the symptoms alone, although they can vary a lot. Some women experience chronic and constant pain, while others can experience a range of symptoms, sporadically or intermittently. Some of the main vulvodynia symptoms are: Stinging pain Itching Burning pain Throbbing sensations Pulsating sensations Inflammation Muscle spasms Vulvodynia pain can start or stop suddenly, making it unpredictable and thus difficult to manage. It could be that you go for months with no pain, and then symptoms reappear without warning and become chronic. There is often no real pattern to it. It is important to remember that vulvar pain can have many origins, and many conditions share similar symptoms to vulvodynia. Furthermore, vulvodynia is a complex condition with no definitive underlying cause, and various possibilities (we’ll get into that later in the article). For this reason, it is important to get a proper vulvodynia diagnosis, which will likely involve the Q-tip test. How is vulvodynia diagnosed? To find out if you have vulvodynia, two checks are usually required. The first is an interview with a mental health professional. This interview is essentially a psychological assessment to gather information on what might be causing your pain, the affect it has on you, how long you have experienced it and what prompted you to seek treatment for it. They will endeavor to find out whether any comorbid disorders are present, what you have tried in terms of pain management and what the results were. The next is a biological assessment with an appropriately trained health care professional; perhaps a pelvic floor physical therapist or gynecologist. Sometimes this professional will also do the psychological assessment. There are two types of vulvodynia, so they will be trying to determine which you have so that it can be treated accordingly. Generalized vulvodynia Generalized vulvodynia refers to the kind of chronic pelvic pain that affects the whole vulvar area. It can come and go, or be constant, and is easily aggravated by activities and behaviors such as: Wearing tight clothes Sitting for extended periods of time Riding a horse Pressure on the area (e.g. from a bike saddle or hard chair) Some describe it as a burning pain – the sensation of the vulva being on fire. Localized vulvodynia Localized vulvodynia differs in that the pain is usually only felt in one or two specific areas in the vulva, with the pain also presenting as burning or stinging. It can sometimes feel as if a muscle is torn, or that the vagina is stretched. Pressure on one of these painful spots brings on, or exacerbates the pain. How is the Q-tip test done? Once the psychological interview is complete, your health care professional will begin the physical examination by doing a Q-tip test. Here’s what that may look like: You are placed in the lithotomy position with your legs in stirrups You will be encouraged to relax your muscles, if you can You will be informed of each step in advance so there aren’t any surprises A gauze pad will hold the labia minora in place so your vulval vestibule can be accessed The vestibule is divided into sections according to a clock face (don’t worry, this is not a physical division, but a mental map for your practitioner) A cotton swab (or Q-tip) is used to apply pressure to each section at random and you will be asked to rate the pain level on a scale of 1-10 Your pain levels will be documented in order to confirm a diagnosis This is a typical assessment for vulvodynia, but practitioners may use slight variations of this process according to their preferred methodology. How reliable is the Q-tip test? The Q-tip test is considered clinically reliable, although it is possible for some extent of human error to occur, given that the Q-tip test requires the pressure on each section to be consistent. It is possible that a practitioner might use what is known as a vulvalgesiometer instead of a cotton swab or Q-tip test. A vulvalgesiometer is a device that exerts a set level of pressure on each section of the vulva. What is the cause of vulvodynia? Although it is not definitively proven, experts think that vulvodynia could be a form of neuropathic pain. This means that the vulval nerve fibers respond as if they were pain fibers, interpreting even very delicate touch as pain. Burning and stinging sensations often characterize neuropathic pain, which lends credibility to this theory. There are three types of neuropathic pain that may cause vulvodynia: Allodynia: Pain sensations in areas that don’t normally hurt when pressure is applied Hyperalgesia: Excessive pain response to pressure that might usually cause a smaller degree of pain Dysesthesia: unusual levels of discomfort when the pressure is minimal Although you might experience all three, experts usually consider vulvodynia to fall under the category of allodynia. Other possible causes of vulvodynia are: Inflammation of the vulva Damage or irritation of the nerves of the vulva A response to long-term infection Food sensitivities Muscle dysfunction in the pelvic floor Genetic disorders Conditions impacting muscles or bones close to the pain site Autoimmune diseases like fibromyalgia and systemic lupus erythematosus. What can trigger vulvodynia pain? If you already have vulvodynia, you might experience a flare-up because of any of the following: Nerve injury or irritation Abnormal vulvar cell reaction to trauma, infection or chronic inflammation Pelvic floor muscle spasms Hormonal fluctuations or changes Pressure on the bowel or bladder (when full) Hypersensitivity to vaginal yeast infections (candida) Excessive antibiotic use (also causes yeast infection) Sexual trauma or abuse Allergic reactions (e.g. irritants in personal care products and laundry detergents) Stress If you are searching for further information, this article gives some insight into the possible reasons for vulvodynia flare-ups, and some tips for managing vulvar pain. We often hear the question, “Will my vulvodynia pain go away?” and we are always pleased to answer with something positive: yes, it can and with persistence probably will, but not on its own. So it is necessary to seek treatment from an expert. Many experts recommend using vaginal dilators for vulvodynia – in particular magnetic dilators, which increase blood flow to the area to soothe nerves – and many of our customers and clinic trial participants report great results with them. Resources Sandiegosexualmedicine.com/female-diagnostic-tests/cotton-swab-test Vuvatech.com/blogs/care/is-vulvodynia-a-chronic-illness Vuvatech.com/blogs/care/foods-to-avoid-with-vulvodynia Vuvatech.com/blogs/care/vulvodynia-exercises-besides-dilators Do you need to order vaginal dilators so you can start your pelvic floor therapy process? Made in the USA. Visit www.vuvatech.com VuVa Helpful Links: How do Neodymium Vaginal Dilators work? 7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen How to use Vaginal Dilators How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life! Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators Tara Langdale Schmidt is the inventor of the VuVa Dilator Company. She has pelvic floor dysfunction herself and wanted to create a dilator set that is made in America that women can trust. VuVatech has been in business since 2014 and has helped over 50,000 women all over the globe. She patented the Neodymium Vaginal Dilator, that is clinically proven to help with blood flow and nerve pain. Podcast Episode 22: Tara Langdale-Schmidt What’s on Your Vagenda? Click here
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Vaginal Dilators: Important facts you need to know
When it comes to vaginal dilators, they have two main purposes - one is they help the vagina get used to having something inside of it, and the other is they help erase the muscle memory that keeps your pelvic floor in a protection mode. Even if the size of your vagina is normal, you need to know that painful sex starts a pain cycle, which can cause a fear of penetration that results in contracting the vagina when trying to have intercourse. The dilators are a safe option to help eliminate the initial cause of pain, but bear in mind to use the smaller one and then increase up slowly. You want to end up using a dilator close to the penis size of your partner if you are sexually active. The vaginal tissues and the pelvic floor muscles start learning to hold something inside without leading to the surplus pain responses. It is a great way to make your deeper pelvic muscles relax as well, and when you have sex with an actual person, your pelvic muscles will relax as well. A vaginal dilator is also a way you can use to gently and gradually stretch tissues that are tighter and not elastic enough - it is often the case when a woman has vaginal dryness and thinning due to hormonal changes (post menopause or chemotherapy). This can arise due to skin conditions or when a vagina tissues have been affected by radiation or surgery as well. The reduction in size of the vaginal opening can always reversible, and an essential advantage of using a dilator is that you will know if you are prepared for intercourse. 10 ways VuVa Magnetic Dilators can help: When used appropriately, potential benefits of VuVa Magnetic Vaginal Dilator therapy can include: Improved physical comfort with sexual intercourse after pelvic floor surgery with scarring and narrowing and/or shortening of the vagina. Allowing pain free sexual penetration by training pelvic floor muscle relaxation. Reducing pelvic floor muscle tension or spasm with vaginismus Overcoming fear of vaginal penetration buy using dilators on a regular basis. Prevention of adhesions/fibrosis from forming during and after pelvic radiotherapy Allowing for easier use of tampons. Facilitating ease of gynecological examination. Creating natural energy to the painful area for nerve pain reduction. Helping with natural lubrication and vaginal dryness by creating blood flow to the area. Relaxing muscles immediately before intercourse to allow easy penetration by your partner. Vaginismus And Depression: The Real Deal When you notice the symptoms of vaginal muscle tightening, penetration restrictions, or vaginismus, it may leave you a little bit confused regarding your body. It can make you question yourself why it is so hard for you, and it can maker you worry and feel uncomfortable when people talk about sex around you. Doubt - When it is certain that there is something wrong - due to the patterns of being unable to have continued sex, they start doubting themselves. It is not just in the context of their physical health, but it also greatly impacts their overall mental health. Fear - In the case of vaginismus, fear is multi-pronged, and while it all starts with the fear of intercourse, the other fear also arises for failure. It further leads to the fear of relationships going down the drain and being unable to do anything about the pain - the fear only compounds with time while making the problem even more complex. Guide - The prospect of not being a "sexually adequate partner" consumes many women when they have vaginismus, especially when it is happening continuously. As a result, women start to take responsibility for everything going wrong in their relationships, and inside their minds, they start thinking that maybe it is due to the lack of sex that is causing relationship issues. When sex hurts, you can find a way out. We know that many of our readers benefit from using vaginal dilators, since they can help you to work with physical causes and prepare you for sex when the cause is psychological. Our site has so much information designed to help you, but you should also feel free to contact us if you think we can help with anything. This article was posted by VuVatech. VuVatech has their own line of Magnetic and Vaginal Dilators for Pelvic Pain. Learn more here: Vuvatech.com/pages/how-vuva-vaginal-dilators-work Do you need to order vaginal dilators so you can start your pelvic floor therapy process? Made in the USA. Visit www.vuvatech.com VuVa Helpful Links: How do Neodymium Vaginal Dilators work? 7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen How to use Vaginal Dilators How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life! Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators Tara Langdale Schmidt is the inventor of the VuVa Dilator Company. She has pelvic floor dysfunction herself and wanted to create a dilator set that is made in America that women can trust. VuVatech has been in business since 2014 and has helped over 50,000 women all over the globe. She patented the Neodymium Vaginal Dilator, that is clinically proven to help with blood flow and nerve pain. Podcast Episode 22: Tara Langdale-Schmidt What’s on Your Vagenda? Click here
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Vaginal Dilators are Essential, Doc Says.
Written by Dr. Elizabeth Prusak Dilators are “Essential” Vaginal dilators are an essential and beneficial medical treatment for patients who experience pelvic pain and anxiety in response to vaginal penetration. Vaginal dilators, also known as vaginal trainers or spacers are designed to gently and gradually restore and expand the tissue and muscles of the vaginal opening. Combined with the use of pelvic floor physical therapy, behavioral health therapy, correction of underlying medical issues, and some dedication and persistence on the patient’s and provider’s part, this simple tool can increase a patient's quality of life in the area of sexual intercourse and during the routine gynecological office speculum exam. Vaginal dilators are also part of the postoperative care of male to female transgender patients after their surgery to maintain a neovagina. What is a Dilator? Vaginal dilators are non sterile cylindrical medical devices that sequentially increase in diameter and/or length. They are placed inside the vagina in a gentle manner by a trained medical professional and then, after some training, by the patient to help expand the vaginal tissues that may be contracted and tight. Dilators are prescribed to patients by a wide array of medical professionals including OB/GYN physicians, physical therapists, counselors, and pain specialists. They have been in use for over 75 years in the medical field and have a long track record of success if used properly. Vaginal dilators are very unique in that they have the ability to treat the patient both psychologically and physically. How Do They Help? Dedicated usage reconditions and facilitates an adaptive body/brain connection to stop anticipatory anxiety and pelvic discomfort and pain that is often experienced by patients from a psychological standpoint. Dilator introduction and progression also treats the physical vulvar region and retrains pelvic floor muscles. Over time the muscles are stretched gently by the dilators. What Conditions Can Dilators Treat? Patients who suffer from several categories of medical conditions greatly benefit from the use of vaginal dilators. Three categories of patients encompass the clinical scenarios where vaginal dilator usage would be valuable. It is important to address underlying medical issues and be sure they are being treated first before attempting vaginal dilator usage. 1. Change in Pelvic Floor Anatomy The first category encompasses patients with conditions that have created a change in the normal pelvic anatomy. This includes postoperative patients after a hysterectomy, gender reassignment surgery, or a prolapse repair. Another type would be an alteration due to a cancer therapy, such as radiation. Also included in this group are genetic conditions where either no vagina or a rudimentary vagina is present at birth such as Mullerian agenesis or Mayer Rokitansky Kuster Hauser (MRKH) Syndrome. This group is amongst the more straightforward to treat, because the cause of the vaginal penetration is usually a purely anatomical issue, with less of an emphasis on the psychological area. 2. Problems with Penetration The second category are patients who have never been able to insert anything into the vagina- a tampon, a speculum, nor any sexual activity with penetration. These patients can have the desire to allow penetration, but even after multiple attempts they cannot. These also can include patients with a strong negative psychological history associated with vaginal penetration, such as those who have been raped or abused in the past. This condition is known as vaginismus and is best treated with vaginal dilators combined with regular behavioral health sessions. This group of patients is very difficult to treat and usually requires a longer time period of dilator usage and training before they achieve success. Frequent behavioral therapy sessions are key to treating these patients. 3. Pelvic Pain Conditions The third category of patients are ones who have a medical condition that causes painful or restricted vaginal penetration. This encompasses vaginal atrophy during menopause, vulvodynia, vulvar vestibulitis, interstitial cystitis, painful bladder syndrome, endometriosis, pelvic pain after childbirth from episiotomy or perineal tears, lichen sclerosus, chronic vaginal infections, and tumors that create a mass effect such as ovarian cysts, colon tumors and bladder cysts. Ensuring that these patient’s medical conditions are optimized and treated is very beneficial in the success for these patients. How to Talk About Dilator Use Approaching the topic of starting to use vaginal dilators with a patient is never easy, but it is usually up to the provider to initiate this discussion, because typically a patient's fear or embarrassment about the subject of unsuccessful vaginal penetration or pain is heightened even more during the office visit. 1. Creating a comfortable environment Reassuring the patient that their problem is very common and trying to put them at ease is the first step. Patients will encounter a wide array of emotions during this visit and it might take a few visits before even attempting to use dilators in the office. Showing patients the dilators and how to use them in the office is a key step, followed by co management with a pelvic floor physical therapist, behavioral health therapy, and treatment of any underlying medical conditions. 2. Longer appointment times and frequency Ensuring that the visit is allotted proper time for this type of patient is very important, so neither the provider nor the patient feels rushed. Many healthcare providers do not address vaginal dilator use at the office visit and barriers such as lack of knowledge, reimbursement issues, physician and patient embarrassment, poor communication, and lack of time are ranked as the top reasons for such problems going unaddressed. Even with a motivated patient and provider, vaginal dilator compliance remains low, so making subsequent visits at close time intervals is helpful and education is key. 3. Seek out a NAMS certified Physical Therapist Typically providers receive special training and have a special interest in treating patients with vaginal penetration issues and training with vaginal dilators, and these would be the providers most sought out by and recommended to patients with these issues. The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) offers a certification for providers with this special interest, and their website has a list of certified providers. This is a good starting point for patients to look for a provider, although choosing a provider for this type of treatment is a very personal decision, and many patients have to see multiple providers before committing to one for treatment. How Do Medical Vaginal Dilator Sessions Work? A first session with vaginal dilators would entail an education session with the patient: explaining the uses of dilators and how they can help with the patient's medical condition and issues of vaginal penetration. Showing them the various sizes of dilators and explaining with simple easily understood words and language that the patient can understand should be done. Instructing the patient that they will be in a lying down position and using the dilators with lubricant or lidocaine ointment for any pain relief is the first step. Once the patient feels comfortable and wants to start and is properly positioned, the physician first inserts in the smallest dilator into the vaginal opening and allows the patient to relax around the dilator if possible, and leaves the dilator inside the vagina for 15-30 seconds before repeating and moving onto the next dilator size up. This is done in the office until the patient feels even the smallest discomfort with the largest size of dilator. The patient is instructed that different companies sell dilators and the provider recommends a set for him/her to obtain before leaving the office. For home use, the recommendation is three times a week for fifteen minutes per day being a typical goal for patients to strive to use their dilators. Then moving up from there. Patients should be instructed to write down their progress and which dilator number they are able to achieve on a weekly basis. Activities such as deep breathing and relaxation techniques can be used during dilator therapy. Scheduling and attending cognitive behavioral therapy along with this is very helpful. A follow up phone call to the patient within a week giving words of encouragement is beneficial to maintaining continuance of usage. The next follow up appointment should be within a month’s time. A good “bonus plan” for the patient also can be to recommend dilator usage prior to coitus to help relax the patient after he/she becomes more comfortable with the use of dilators. Patients should be reassured that this is a long term solution to their issue of vaginal penetration and that fast results are not going to happen, and that this is normal to achieve success slowly. It is also important to tell patients that use of vaginal dilators will need to be continued even after the patient achieves initial success, although a more infrequent basis is prudent after this. Final Word on Dilators Vaginal dilator therapy is an important part of treatment for sexual pain and vaginal penetration issues. Education and reassurance of both physicians and patients is key to a successful journey to treat this issue. Vaginal dilator therapy requires long term patience and goal setting, but it is a safe and effective therapy and is very much underutilized in the medical community. Seeking out providers who have a special interest and education in treating these issues is key for the patient to have a successful treatment. Dr. Elizabeth Prusak is a board certified OB/Gyn physician and sexual health specialist, ABOG board instructor, and medical writer who has devoted herself to helping and empowering women and transgender patients. She has spoken at several national conferences, educating other physicians on how to better approach patients with the difficult topics of menopause and sexual health. She takes a holistic approach to gynecology and emphasizes the value of a total mind and body approach to care. She has over 15 years experience with the use of vaginal dilators and pelvic floor physical therapy helping patients.
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How to Overcome Fear of Physical Intimacy
Fear of physical intimacy can cause havoc in a woman’s life. It has a detrimental impact on her self-esteem and her romantic relationships, and if not dealt with, it can become a serious problem that hampers the quality of her life. Fear of sex (genophobia) is actually quite a common thing, but it can be overcome. Overcoming fear of physical intimacy may require more than one form of treatment, and this could be psychological or physical in nature depending on the root of the issue. Our recent article on the root causes of fear of sex and physical intimacy addresses some of the most common reasons for this issue. This article will take a look at what you can do to overcome fear of physical intimacy. How to overcome fear of physical intimacy Firstly it is necessary to determine whether your fear of intimacy stems from a physical or psychological issue. Fear of physical intimacy generally does have psychological origins, however for some women this results in a physical manifestation that can worsen the fears of intimacy. Let’s take a look at the most common causes of fear of intimacy and how to address them: Physical causes Physical conditions can lead to fear of sexual intimacy because of the pain or embarrassment they cause. For example, if you have vaginismus you are dealing with a physical issue, but the condition itself is likely to have psychological origins. In this case you may need a combination of counseling or sexual therapy and some form of physical therapy to help manage the physical symptoms. Lots of women have success with vaginal dilators, which allow them to practice penetration in the privacy of their home, in their own time. Eventually fear of penetration is likely to subside. Dilators can also help train your mind to release the anxiety you feel around intimacy. If you have vulvodynia, you’re going to experience painful sex (dyspareunia), which tends to lead to fear of physical intimacy because sex becomes associated with pain. Vulvodynia is unlikely to have psychological causes, and will need to be treated with the help of an experienced practitioner. Typical vulvodynia treatments include pelvic floor therapy, natural self-care techniques, medications and vaginal dilators. As is the case with vaginismus, vaginal dilators can help your vagina get used to the feeling of penetration. Psychological causes If your fear of physical intimacy stems from a history of sexual abuse, poor self image or performance anxiety, a professional counselor of some kind will be best equipped to help you overcome your negative associations with sex, or self esteem issues. Psychotherapy comes in many forms, and the treatment required is unique to each person, but long-term therapy is generally beneficial in managing fear of intimacy. The most common types of psychological therapy are: CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Somatic Experiencing (SE) Other traditional psychotherapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) It may be necessary to have a consultation with more than one type of therapist to see if they are right for you. For example, a CBT therapist might introduce different ways of thinking or techniques to help you overcome triggers, whereas a sexual therapist might address your feelings and teach you strategies for reframing sexual activity. A counselor might be able to help you work through the underlying issues that caused your negative self-perception or performance anxiety. If you think you may have a vaginal pain condition or you get severe phobic reactions to sexual intimacy, a proper diagnosis is important. Your doctor should be able to provide you with some helpful resources and where necessary, give you a referral to the right type of therapists for your problems. Overcoming fear of physical intimacy can sometimes be a long road, but it is certainly worth the effort. Make the commitment and you will get there! VuVa Helpful Links: 7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen How to use Vaginal Dilators How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life! Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators
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Made in the USA
We create safe, effective products that truly work — designed to help you relax, restore balance, and feel good in your body again. Our VuVa® Pelvic Floor Support Sets gently calm nerves, ease tension, and support natural pelvic healing from the inside out.
