Many women live with vaginismus for years before anyone connects the dots. The pain, avoidance of intimacy and feeling like something is wrong with your body can weigh on you in ways that are hard to put into words. You may have been told to “just relax,” or dismissed entirely by providers who weren’t sure what to make of your symptoms.
At Fox Valley Plastic Surgery, we take this condition seriously. We’ve helped women throughout Wisconsin and beyond find real answers and real relief, and we want to do the same for you. This is a safe, private space to ask questions and explore your options.
Vaginismus is a medical condition that causes involuntary tightening or spasming of the vaginal muscles during penetration. It can make intercourse, tampon use and even routine gynecological exams extremely difficult, if not impossible.
For women with vaginismus, this muscle response happens automatically and is not something they can consciously control, similar to a reflex. Fortunately, treatment options that relax the affected muscles can help alleviate both physical and emotional symptoms, including pain, anxiety and strain on intimate relationships.
Vaginismus is estimated to affect up to 7% of women worldwide, although, as an underreported issue, some studies suggest actual rates may be higher. The exact cause is unknown, but vaginismus can be either primary or secondary. Primary vaginismus means a woman has never been able to achieve comfortable penetration, while secondary vaginismus develops after a period of normal sexual activity. At Fox Valley Plastic Surgery, we most often see success when treating primary vaginismus. Secondary vaginismus can have more complex underlying causes, and outcomes are less predictable.
Symptoms of primary and secondary vaginismus may include:
Involuntary vaginal muscle spasms when penetration is attempted or anticipated
Feeling like you’re “hitting a wall” when trying to use tampons or have penetrative sex
Pain, burning or tearing sensations during penetration
Difficulty or pain with tampon insertion
Inability to complete a gynecological exam comfortably
These symptoms may occur every time penetration is attempted (global vaginismus) or only at certain times (situational vaginismus). It’s also worth noting that women with vaginismus can often experience arousal and orgasm through external stimulation without difficulty. The condition is specific to penetration, not sexuality or desire.
Vaginismus is highly treatable. For most women, treatment begins with pelvic floor physical therapy. Pelvic physical therapists are specialists in identifying and addressing hypertonic (overactive) pelvic floor muscles, and they provide the hands-on support, dilation training and emotional guidance that helps patients rebuild comfort and control.
Fox Valley Plastic Surgery works alongside qualified gynecologists or pelvic physical therapists in treating this condition. Our role is specific: when conventional treatments have provided adequate relief, we administer the Botox injections that interrupt the involuntary muscle contractions. Your physical therapist will be responsible for supervising dilator training and other exercises that facilitate comfortable penetration. If you don’t have a physical therapist, our team can refer you to a qualified provider.
You can feel at ease talking with us about this most private topic. If your OB-GYN has formally diagnosed your condition as vaginismus, your initial consultation is typically covered by insurance. We generally ask for a referral from your OB-GYN to make that first conversation as productive as possible. A $100 non-refundable consultation fee will be collected from those without a formal referral, which can be applied toward the cost of the procedure.
Botox has been used to treat vaginismus since 1997. The procedure is performed at the surgery center under anesthesia, rather than in the office, because the vaginal walls would otherwise spasm, preventing accurate placement of the injections. Botox and a local topical anesthetic are injected into the vaginal walls, temporarily preventing the muscles from constricting in the reflex pattern that makes penetration painful or impossible. While you’re still under anesthesia, a dilator is inserted to stretch the vaginal walls and left in place as you wake.
Under your physical therapist’s supervision, you’ll practice with the dilator over the following several days, gradually building tolerance and retraining the body’s response. From there, the transition from dilators to intercourse happens at your own pace. For many women, this treatment marks the first time penetration has felt possible, and for some, it opens the door to intimacy and family planning that vaginismus had previously put out of reach.
Fox Valley Plastic Surgery has been serving patients across Wisconsin since 1993. Drs. David Janssen and William Doubek are both board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), a distinction held by only 25% of plastic surgeons nationwide. Our practice has cared for over 35,000 patients and built its reputation on thoughtful, medically sound care.
Botox has been used to treat vaginismus since the late 1990s and our team has been offering it since 2013. Our first vaginismus patient came to us three months before her wedding. Her treatment was successful, and she became pregnant a year later. Every vaginismus case we see is handled with the same level of discretion and care. If you’ve been struggling to find a provider who takes this seriously, we’d welcome the chance to be that team for you.
You don’t have to live with vaginismus. At Fox Valley Plastic Surgery, we offer a proven treatment option that can help you find relief. If you’re ready to explore your options, call 920-233-1540 or request a consultation online at either our Appleton or Oshkosh location.
