If I suffer from vaginismus, can I use an erotic toy?

Vaginismus", as we have already explained to some extent in a previous article, is the difficulty or impossibility of introducing anything into the vagina due to the involuntary contraction of the muscles surrounding the vaginal cavity.

The symptomatology it produces is, therefore, a resistance to penetration in general (remember that "penetration" is not a term that derives from "penis") that manifests itself in a variable way but that usually takes place with pain, irritative itching and various local discomfort, as well as variable and ample manifestations of anxiety (at the moment or normally in anticipation). Naturally, there are different degrees of the condition depending on the resistance of the vagina, the intensity of the symptoms and the frequency of circumstances in which it occurs.

In spite of being an involuntary spasm, vaginismus can be selective and, although it is sometimes generated under any circumstance in which it is intended to introduce something into the vaginal cavity (it makes it impossible, for example, to introduce a tampon, a gynaecological inspection or a vaginal intercourse), other times it allows one but not the other (what vaginismus almost never allows, by the way, is not to put on a "tampax" -which also- but to practice intercourse).

According to Pleasure Measured there is also variability in terms of aetiology; sometimes it is a purely mechanical, organic, anatomical or pathological difficulty (endometriosis, urinary tract infections, lack of lubrication, tumours or diseases of genital transmission, normally) which can be detected, diagnosed and treated by a gynaecological professional, but other times it is a blockage of exclusively psychological origin, a phobic rejection which can have many causes and origins in the patient's biography but which is directly linked to difficulties in the process and development of sexuality.

Toys to simulate sexual intercourse are not usually well received.

After that, it will be understood that erotic toys that allow to represent a coitus are not usually well received by women who suffer from vaginismus. Phallic prostheses, "G-spot" stimulators and other technological instruments that require to be inserted into the vagina, usually produce and sometimes increase the reactive action of rejection, especially if the woman who suffers from vaginismus ventures with them without therapeutic attention (something not very common, trying these genital gadgets, in a person who no longer feels any inclination to put anything into the vagina).

However, as a therapeutic tool in the hands of a professional who knows the multiple and diverse alternatives offered by the market and who knows how to handle the variability of sizes, thicknesses and intensities of these devices, can be progressively and gradually of great use, and not for the purpose of providing masturbatory pleasure to the patient but to adapt her body to a situation, to introduce something, for which her own body is natural, except organic problem, perfectly prepared.

The orgasm is a powerful ally to overcome the blockages caused by vaginismus.

We say that, in the hands of a therapist, these specific genital gadgets can be a useful behavioral tool but not to get the vaginismus patient to masturbate, because fortunately and unless the rejection occurs in very general terms towards her own sexuality, any woman with vaginismus can masturbate and get full pleasure through this erotic practice (masturbation). It is already known, or should be already known, that the areas of greatest orgasmic stimulation that women have are located on the outside of the vagina, on the vulva and in no case require intravaginal stimulation.

Thus, the commercial market of genital stimulation devices offers products of enormous efficiency and progressive degrees of sophistication that can very satisfactorily induce orgasm in women with vaginismus.

The orgasm is also a powerful ally in the achievement of overcoming the blockages that cause this condition, the involuntary contractions of the vaginal muscles that produces the orgasm is a good school that allows women to "learn" that this muscle can relax and that there is nothing that has to be necessarily interpreted as indefectibly painful or synonymous with rejection in terms of the mobility of that cavity is concerned.

What is important to avoid that bad experiences reaffirm this traumatic symptomatology of rejection or aversion, is that when a woman finds herself under this circumstance, she goes to see a professional who, through the invaluable help of sex education, can accompany her and serve as a guide in the gradual approach to genital stimulation through these devices.