Vaginismus -- Virgin Wife Syndrome Solved by Botox and Other Means

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April 6, 2011--

A story broke in February 2011 about a whole new use for Botox - to treat vaginismus, a painful condition where women cannot have sexual intercourse due to spasms in their vagina not allowing penetration.

Vaginismus should not be confused with vaginal atrophy which is generally a condition affecting older, post menopausal women with a drop in estrogen. Many boomers are beginning to experience this.

The drop in naturally occurring estrogen causes the vagina to shrink and also cause pain in penetration. That condition is oftentimes treated with estrogen such as an Estrace topical cream.

About 6% of women worldwide are affected by vaginismus, a painful condition that prevents normal sexual intercourse.

In contrast, vaginismus knows no age barriers and can also affect young women. That is why there is a concept called the "virgin wife" where, do to the inability to penetrate the vagina, the marriage is never sexually consummated.

According to MSNBC, botulinum Toxin A, the active ingredient in drugs such as Botox, can help ease painful vaginal conditions that prevents normal intercourse. In their interview with Dr. Peter T. Pacik, a New Hampshire plastic surgeon who is conducting an FDA-approved clinical trial testing the use of Botox on severe cases of vaginismus. "Most patients I treat are unable to consummate, unable to have a family."

Dr. Pacik has treated 78 patients so far and all but one have virtually been cured after a single session, he said.

Vaginismus is generally defined as an involuntary spasm of the muscles surrounding the vagina. It affects approximately 6% of women worldwide. The spasms close the vagina. Until now, it was medically considered a sexual dysfunction. Possible causes include past sexual trauma or abuse, psychological factors, or a history of discomfort with sexual intercourse. Sometimes no cause can be found.

Pre Botox Treatment

Up until recently treatment generally involved therapy that combined education, counseling, and pelvic floor exercises. Most notable are the Kegel exercises to contract and relax the muscles of the pelvic floor, the same exercises for incontinence.

Another treatment is to use plastic dilators under the direction of a therapist or health care provider. Such therapy should involve the partner, and can gradually include more intimate contact, ultimately resulting in intercourse.

According to the National Institutes for Health success rates can be very high if treatment is rendered by a specialist in sex therapy who incorporates specialized counseling along with dilators and pelvic floor exercises.

The Botox solution shows promise, but the long term consequences are unknown at this time.

Posting date: 04/06/11

Source: MSNBC

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