Ok so there are some treatment options that we haven’t covered and mostly that’s because there is not that much research behind them as possible solutions for vaginismus.
You may have seen some GINAs posting on FB threads from 2009 or in the deep dark corners of ask.com but in the interests of being open and transparent, we thought we would mention a few just so if you come across them on the interwebs you can make a more informed decision about your treatment.
As always, you should discuss your treatment options with your doctor, PFP, or gynecologist as they will be able to advise on the best treatment for you, sweet soybean!
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a form of treatment that involves inserting very thin needles through a person’s skin at specific points on the body, to various depths. Some research suggests that it can help to relieve pain. There has been very little research on acupuncture as a method to treat vaginismus but speak with your doctor if you would like to learn more.
Botox
Botulinum neurotoxin Type A (commonly called botox) can act as a selective muscle weakening and/or paralyzing agent, to help reduce nerve pain. While the effect is reversible, botox is widely used in medicine for a variety of conditions such as painful muscle contraction, migraine, or excessive sweating.
Some treatments involve injections of botox into the pelvic floor muscle to provide a temporary window of opportunity to rehabilitate and stretch the over-contracting pelvic floor muscles.
This is presented as an option for GINAs who have not responded to traditional treatments using dilators, pelvic floor physiotherapy, and sex therapy. Again, there is little research into this as an effective treatment method for vaginismus so speak with your doctor to explore this topic more.
Medication
Before we begin please note that you should speak to your doctor and PFP about pharmaceutical options to treat vaginismus and pelvic pain. GINA is no doctor (duh) so the following is just an exploration of some pharmaceutical options that have shown to be effective for some users in conjunction with vaginal dilation, PFP, and sex therapy. Again, there is little research into these options so we are a good way off a magical pill you can swallow to keep vaginismus away (ugh drainer right).
Also important to note, stop believing everything you read on the internet! Jeez! What works for one may not work for all.
Lidocaine Gel: Some GINAs have responded positively to Lidocaine Gel, a topical numbing gel. This is typically used to reduce pain or discomfort caused by skin irritations, scratches, or burns. It can also be used to treat rectal discomfort caused by hemorrhoids. Talk to your doctor to find out more.
Tricyclic Medications: There are different kinds, and they are usually used to treat nerve pain. There have been some positive studies on patients with pelvic nerve pain and again, nothing substantial on vaginismus. Talk to your doctor if you want to find out more.
Sex toys
Hello! Got your attention there! This has been lumped in here as it’s not a treatment per se however can be a workaround for pain-free sex. There are some sex toys on the market designed to minimize the amount of penetration on the vagina and hence the pain associated with penetrative sex. Google them if you are interested in learning more.