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Vaginismus Treatments Done Differently
I'm in San Diego attending a conference of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health. We start early and finish late. I'm exhausted, but my brain is satisfyingly full.
This year 25 countries have sent researchers and therapists to present lectures about a vast array of issues that pertain to female sexual well being. I am amazed at the dedication of the presenters and thrilled about the progress that this field is making. There are about three hundred people attending and about 50% are medical health providers (medical doctors, nurse practitioners, physical therapists), 20% solely scientific researchers and the remaining 30% are primarily mental health providers. I don't present - just listen. I prefer to translate the research into information that the average person could possibly use. Not all researchers present the fruits of their work in easily understandable terms, so that's what I do.
I've treated clients in my office for vaginismus (painful vaginal spasms) for many years. The work with these clients is often slow paced. I measure progress in my mind with some equivalent of emotions measured in microns. And, I am OK with this.
The treatment works if the woman sticks with it. If she does her work at home by writing her thoughts in some journal form and uses her insertors regularly, she can take the steps that mature her sexuality. And, I usually strongly suggest that she learn to eroticize what can be a very clinical "getting to know you" session with her genitals. It often takes six to nine months to accomplish full insertion with an insertor that resembles her partner's erect penis size.
So, when Moniek M. ter Kuile of The Netherlands presented her research, I was very interested. At the Outpatient Clinic for Psychosomatic Gynecology and Sexology at Leiden University Medical Center she was permitted to treat vaginismus clients in a uniquely effective and time-sparing manner.
It turns out that 60 women with lifelong vaginismus participated with their sexual partner in a therapist-aided treatment of their condition. Nearly all of the women were able to use insertors that began with very small sizes and gradually increased to the size of their partner's penis. The treatment consisted of up to three two-hour sessions in one week's time in which the woman controlled the insertion of these learning devices into her own vagina while her partner held a mirror for her to see her own genitals. The therapist verbally assisted with guidance and helped the woman to follow through with what she came there to do.
I was very struck with the contrast!
As a licensed marriage and family therapist in California, ethically I am not supposed to touch my clients (other than the occasional handshake or to receive a "thank you" hug). As it is, people with little information about what I do as a sex therapist confuse the nature of my job with sexual surrogate therapists. All I do is talk, draw diagrams and use pictures to explain sexual and relationship information.
So, I sat there wondering if the medical setting of this study somehow legitimized this approach for the women. I wondered if this worked and was accepted just because The Netherlands is a more liberal country. And I wondered if there was a way that I could incorporate this into my practice.
The therapist did not touch the clients. She was just present in the room, keeping the couple on course and offering support. People often comment that I seem fairly placid, calm and easy to be around. Perhaps there is a gynecologist who would join in on this type of treatment. I'll be giving that one some thought. If women could accomplish this in a week's time rather than the better part of a year -- wouldn't that be great?
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: sex therapy, vaginismus, sexuality
This year 25 countries have sent researchers and therapists to present lectures about a vast array of issues that pertain to female sexual well being. I am amazed at the dedication of the presenters and thrilled about the progress that this field is making. There are about three hundred people attending and about 50% are medical health providers (medical doctors, nurse practitioners, physical therapists), 20% solely scientific researchers and the remaining 30% are primarily mental health providers. I don't present - just listen. I prefer to translate the research into information that the average person could possibly use. Not all researchers present the fruits of their work in easily understandable terms, so that's what I do.
I've treated clients in my office for vaginismus (painful vaginal spasms) for many years. The work with these clients is often slow paced. I measure progress in my mind with some equivalent of emotions measured in microns. And, I am OK with this.
The treatment works if the woman sticks with it. If she does her work at home by writing her thoughts in some journal form and uses her insertors regularly, she can take the steps that mature her sexuality. And, I usually strongly suggest that she learn to eroticize what can be a very clinical "getting to know you" session with her genitals. It often takes six to nine months to accomplish full insertion with an insertor that resembles her partner's erect penis size.
So, when Moniek M. ter Kuile of The Netherlands presented her research, I was very interested. At the Outpatient Clinic for Psychosomatic Gynecology and Sexology at Leiden University Medical Center she was permitted to treat vaginismus clients in a uniquely effective and time-sparing manner.
It turns out that 60 women with lifelong vaginismus participated with their sexual partner in a therapist-aided treatment of their condition. Nearly all of the women were able to use insertors that began with very small sizes and gradually increased to the size of their partner's penis. The treatment consisted of up to three two-hour sessions in one week's time in which the woman controlled the insertion of these learning devices into her own vagina while her partner held a mirror for her to see her own genitals. The therapist verbally assisted with guidance and helped the woman to follow through with what she came there to do.
I was very struck with the contrast!
As a licensed marriage and family therapist in California, ethically I am not supposed to touch my clients (other than the occasional handshake or to receive a "thank you" hug). As it is, people with little information about what I do as a sex therapist confuse the nature of my job with sexual surrogate therapists. All I do is talk, draw diagrams and use pictures to explain sexual and relationship information.
So, I sat there wondering if the medical setting of this study somehow legitimized this approach for the women. I wondered if this worked and was accepted just because The Netherlands is a more liberal country. And I wondered if there was a way that I could incorporate this into my practice.
The therapist did not touch the clients. She was just present in the room, keeping the couple on course and offering support. People often comment that I seem fairly placid, calm and easy to be around. Perhaps there is a gynecologist who would join in on this type of treatment. I'll be giving that one some thought. If women could accomplish this in a week's time rather than the better part of a year -- wouldn't that be great?
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: sex therapy, vaginismus, sexuality
11 Comments:
Anonymous said...
I am a very clean person and I am celibate but sometimes I get a vaginal odor and it is usually after my period. The discharge is clear but the odor is something like "corn chips or tortillas" (no joke). I do not douche because I know I will upset my ph balance. Am I alone and what could be causing this problem?
I think my father has a sex addtion. He is 74 and quit touching the nurses. He has always touched woman and other things. I cant keep a good nurse with him becasue he cant control his sexual behavior. What am I to do. If you tell him not to he gets very mean and He is never done anything wrong in his mind. How do I take care of this.
Hello
I have been married for a year now and I couldn't have a full intercourse with my husband because of that .. I was seeing a therapist for 3 months but it was not helpfull at all .. we never tried the inrtose and I would like to know how and who should I contact to get them . thank you
hey. . ummm i have major vaginal odor ad when ever i remove the hair down therei get pimples and they bleed. Its really embarassing and i dont want to talk to any body about it and its really affecting my life. Ive never had sex either. Help??
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Physical therapists in the United States who treat women with vaginismus and other pelvic muscle problems usually manually massage the muscles in spasm, both outside and inside the vagina, as part of the treatment. They also can sometimes help the women learn how to use dilators. As a sex therapist, it is shocking that you are not aware of this.
It's also interesting that the perception is that this particular treatment method is only happening in other countries. In fact, that is the entire premise behind the Women's Therapy Center in New York. If you are treating women with this condition, it sounds like there may be more research needed to find out all of the options available to them. They come to get assistance with the psychology, but you can also offer resources to help them deal with the physical issue and knowing about this type of treatment, and as the previous post mentioned, the physical therapy options is the place to start. Thanks for raising awareness. There is much for all of us to learn about this condition.
I discovered I had Vaginismus on my wedding night. It took three months of physical therepy to achieve intercourse and an additional year to get to the point where intercourse was painless. My condition was the result of an injury about a week before the wedding but because of the pain of attempting sex on my honeymoon there were some psychological hurdles to over-come as well. PT consited on deep tissue massage on my hips and stretching of the pelvic floor along with kegals and the use of dialators. My husband went to every PT appointment and assisted with PT at home twice daily. It was a long painful road but I desperately wanted that relationship with my husband and he was beyond supportive and understanding. Let's just say he came to know me in a hight few husbands ever know their wives. I am very thankful that my OBGYN was knowlegable about this condition. At the time there were only 2 Women's health PT's in my state. Since my experience I have found half a dozen women who have shared the same phtsical struggle. I can only hope that this issue will continue to be brought to the fore front so that women needn't feel the need to suffer through or just give up.
I am so thankful for the Internet and that all of this information is available to us. I have been married one month and have not been able to understand what is wrong with me and why I cannot have intercourse with my husband. I'm so glad this and other articles are available to me, because I would feel too awkward and shy to confront a physician about this without knowing others suffer the same thing. So everyone, keep posting everything you know about these sensitive topics so you can help me and others like me.
I am 38 and have just recently found out there is a name for my problem - vaginismus. since i first went to the gynocologist at 18 I have had the spasms that closed my vagina, no one until my new gynocoligist ever told me there is a name and cure for this. they all implied I must have been sexually abused, I even started to think that must be true and I cant remember it. I hope all the doctors I have seen before educate themselves about vaginismus. I start physical therapy today. I am now divorced maybe if someone told me about this my marriage would have been good. I hope to have a normal relationship after the pt is done!
I am 30 and I am not able to have sex with my partner. I was sexually abused as a child and have some flashbacks. Sometimes the idea of penetration produces nausea. I do not have health insurance but I am looking for and need low cost treatment as this is ruining my love life and it spills over into many other factors of my life. I have nevef been able to insert a tampon nor have I gotten past the sense of discomfort that even thinking about produces. Can anyone recommend a number for me to call or some type of low cost resource that I can turn to for help. This situation is now causing me to be extremely depressed - not the point of suicide - but I am not my usual self. I just want to be able to enjoy my sexuality.
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