Vaginal Spasm: Causes

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.