Happiful August 2020

• Primary vaginismus is when
putting anything inside your
vagina has never been possible.
• Secondary vaginismus is when it
occurs at any time later in life.
• Vaginismus can also be
an issue for someone who
was born intersex, or who
has experienced Gender
reassignment surgery. For
people who have had a
vagionplasty, it is very
important to have a physical
maintenance regimen, in
addition to any therapy.
Penelope Bould
If you feel anxious about
intercourse, then the thought of
psychosexual therapy may terrify
you even more, but it’s helpful to
remember that there is nothing
physically intimate about the
treatment.
“Later in the treatment, clients are
instructed how to gently use some
small devices at home, starting
with a really small one, at your
own pace,” says Penelope, “to
be used in conjunction with the
therapy and special exercises and
statements.”
Many therapists recommend
couple psychosexual therapy if
you’re in a relationship, as this can
give your partner space to talk.
It may also flag up any abusive
behaviour that may be contributing
to your condition.
The good news is that clinical
trials have found that 80% of people
receiving treatment for vaginismus
see the benefits. Recovery time can
vary, and while some people needed
up to six months of treatment, others
achieved pain-free intercourse in as
little as five weeks.
August 2020 • happiful.com • 35