Pathogenesis (development of disease)
In vaginismus, reflexive contractions of the vagina (vagina) occur when trying to penetrate. These can make coitus (sexual intercourse), insertion of a tampon, or gynecologic examination impossible.
Etiology (causes)
Biographic causes
- Antisexual education/tabooing of sexuality.
- Negative sexual experience
- Sexual abuse (traumatic experience)
Behavioral causes
- Psycho-social situation
- Psychological conflicts
- Stress
Causes related to disease
- Infections of the genitourinary tract (vaginal mycoses; urethritis).
Other causes
- Defensive reaction due to many different causes such as the fear of surrendering
- Iatrogenic (resulting from medical intervention): painful gynecological/urological examinations.
- After births
- After abdominal and vaginal surgeries (abdominal and vaginal surgeries).
- Painful experience during sexual intercourse: e.g., after vaginitis (vaginitis), topical estrogen deficiency or urinary tract infections → secondary vaginistic reaction.