Can botox actually treat my vaginismus?

If you are feeling frozen with fear during sex, a brick wall during intercourse attempts, or leave your OBGYN appointment in tears- then you've come to the right corner of the internet, friend!

You are likely dealing with vaginismus and more than ready for change. You're now curious about botox as a solution. So, this blog will tell you everything you need to know about how it works.

We understand how vaginismus can absolutely be devastating when you are ready to date without anxiety of rejection, book those OBGYN appointments, progress the intimacy in your romantic relationship, or even become a mom. 

We hope this blog will help give you more options and excitement on how to move forward confidently.

Is vaginismus caused by a muscle spasm?

Vaginismus is a pelvic floor muscle disorder characterized by:

1. significant pelvic floor muscle tightness
2. pain with insertion &
3. fear or anxiety with objects going inside of your vagina

These three factors prevents pain free PIV sex, not a spasm. The "involuntary muscle spasm" definition was debunked over a decade ago and is no longer an adequate diagnostic rule for vaginismus. (Reissing,. et al, 2010). The updated term for this condition is Genito-Pelvic Pain Penetration Disorder. (Dias-Amaral,. et al, 2018). The good news is that vaginismus/GPPD is curable and it's still curable for you too! 

Practice saying, writing, and believing this healing affirmation. "Vaginismus is not just curable, it's curable for ME."

The most common non-invasive treatments for vaginismus include: working with a skilled pelvic floor physical therapist, pelvic floor relaxation exercises, progressive vaginal dilator use, and sex therapy or counseling. 

The most common invasive treatments for vaginismus include: surgical procedures like a hymenectomy and botox injections. 

How does botox work for vaginismus and chronic pelvic pain?

Botox is the brand name for botulinum toxin. This drug is injected vaginally into your pelvic floor muscles to paralyze them, which prevents them from contracting or tightening.

The efficacy for botox ranges, with some literature suggesting a 66% success rate (Yaraghi,. et al, 2019). For some, botox can be a life saver- completely curing vaginismus and allowing for pain free intercourse! 

While others may experience pain free PIV after botox, it is also pretty common for the botox effects to wear off after about 2-3 months (Purwar,. et al, 2016). This can be quite disappointing when it cost upwards of one thousand to three thousand dollars. For others, botox doesn't work at all and PIV sex remains impossible.

Botox for vaginismus may still require additional pelvic floor retraining to decrease muscle guarding, pelvic floor tightness, or pelvic pain that's contributing to unsuccessful attempts at PIV sex.

What are some effective, non-invasive options for vaginismus that don't include needles or surgery?

The first line treatment for vaginismus and painful penetration is pelvic floor physical therapy.

 Because vaginismus is a condition that causes sexual distress, pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, pelvic pain, and generally pelvic floor muscle guarding- interventions that directly address the pelvic floor is almost always required. 

How is your virtual approach different for vaginismus care?

Most in-person pelvic floor physical therapist do treat vaginismus but they may not specialize in vaginismus or sexual dysfunction. 

At Vagina Rehab Doctor, we are pelvic floor physical therapists who actually specialize in sexual dysfunction and vaginismus solutions through virtual coaching. This gives us a competitive edge and deeper understanding of vaginismus that most pelvic floor physical therapist don't have. It turns out that this small difference makes a big impact on results!

We currently have a 85% success rate for vaginismus after just 8-10 weekly sessions, while conventional pelvic floor physical therapy averages 29 sessions (Reissing., et al, 2013).

Our virtual approach to vaginismus is built on empowering you as the Vagina CEO to get in the driver seat of your healing with our expert coaching. Think of us as your big sister who knows exactly how to help you when you feel afraid, stuck, or confused by pain.

Instead of you depending on our hands to fix you, we teach you how to understand your brain, your pain, and your pelvic floor (by using your own hands strategically). We show you exactly what to do in each session, while limiting passive approaches to healing like constant pelvic floor massages by a provider (that's typically done with in person pelvic floor therapy). 

Do you help if I struggle a lot with anxiety and fear?

In each coaching session, we purposefully show you how to manage & resolve pain that's creating anxiety, pelvic floor muscle tightness that's creating a brick wall, and fear that's stopping you from embracing your body, your vagina and sexual intimacy. 

Pain and pelvic floor tightness can drive fear and anxiety. In the reverse, fear can also fuel pain and pelvic floor tightness. This means we have to address both the pelvic floor tightness and the fear. 

We use full-body techniques aimed at calming your nervous system and your brain's alarm to vaginal insertion to help you feel more connected to your body.

What happens if pelvic floor physical therapy failed to cure my vaginismus?

You may still benefit from a more unique, client focused, and science backed approach. In fact, most of our 1 on 1 virtual clients have already done in person pelvic floor therapy without ultimate success.

This year alone, we've worked with hundreds of women who have tried physiotherapy, counseling or botox- yet still unable to experience PIV sex. After working beside us, they've now got testimonials to share so that others like you can be free of vaginismus too!

If you are ready to embrace more pleasure, freedom, and intimacy starting today, then just tap the button below to learn more about our vaginismus coaching program & book your first consultation!

REFERENCES

1. Dias-Amaral A, Marques-Pinto A. Female Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder: Review of the Related Factors and Overall Approach. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2018 Dec;40(12):787-793. doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1675805. Epub 2018 Nov 14. PMID: 30428492; PMCID: PMC10309300. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10309300/#:~:text=It%20is%20important%20to%20consider,or%20any%20other%20medical%20condition.
2. Reissing ED, Binik YM, Khalifé S, Cohen D, Amsel R. Vaginal spasm, pain, and behavior: an empirical investigation of the diagnosis of vaginismus. Arch Sex Behav. 2004 Feb;33(1):5-17. doi: 10.1023/B:ASEB.0000007458.32852.c8. PMID: 14739686. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14739686/
3. Purwar B, Khullar V. Use of botulinum toxin for chronic pelvic pain. Womens Health (Lond). 2016 Jun;12(3):293-6. doi: 10.2217/whe-2016-0007. Epub 2016 Jun 10. PMID: 27282840; PMCID: PMC5384509. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5384509/
4. Yaraghi M, Ghazizadeh S, Mohammadi F, Ashtiani EM, Bakhtiyari M, Mareshi SM, Sarfjoo FS, Eftekhar T. Comparing the effectiveness of functional electrical stimulation via sexual cognitive/behavioral therapy of pelvic floor muscles versus local injection of botulinum toxin on the sexual functioning of patients with primary vaginismus: a randomized clinical trial. Int Urogynecol J. 2019 Nov;30(11):1821-1828. doi: 10.1007/s00192-018-3836-7. Epub 2018 Dec 1. PMID: 30506183. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30506183/
5. Reissing ED, Armstrong HL, Allen C. Pelvic floor physical therapy for lifelong vaginismus: a retrospective chart review and interview study. J Sex Marital Ther. 2013;39(4):306-20. doi: 10.1080/0092623X.2012.697535. Epub 2013 Mar 7. PMID: 23470141. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23470141/