Vaginismus
Overcome the Physical Symptoms of Vaginismus with YES Lubricants
What Causes Vaginismus?
Vaginismus is a condition that affects a woman’s ability to engage in sexual intercourse and, as such, can understandably be very distressing. In vaginismus, the pubococcygeus muscle involuntarily tenses, in a similar reflexive manner to someone flinching. The tensed muscle means that penetration becomes difficult or even impossible.
The causes of vaginismus are generally psychological, although there can also be physical instigators. For example, vaginismus can happen following a negative sexual experience, an unpleasant medical examination or if sex is felt to be shameful. It can also be caused by a painful medical condition such as thrush.
Women suffering from vaginismus might feel a burning or stinging pain if the vagina is penetrated by a tampon, finger or penis. This can lead to a fear of pain and therefore an intense fear of penetration and avoidance of sex.
Download our complete guide on vaginismus to understand its causes, symptoms and how to treat its physical & psychological effects.
How to treat vaginismus?
Treatment for vaginismus seeks to identify the underlying emotional causes whilst also addressing the condition’s physical discomfort. In independent case studies, YES® has proven to be successful in remedying the physical difficulties associated with vaginismus.
Treating the psychological causes of vaginismus
A psychosexual therapist can help you identify the physiological triggers and use vaginal relaxation techniques to gradually overcome vaginismus.
Treating the physical symptoms of vaginismus
Treatment of the physical symptoms of vaginismus relies on you becoming more accustomed to intimate touching, and eventually, penetration. Healthcare professionals will either recommend that you begin using vaginal dilators, or, if you are not comfortable with those, that you take the time to gently relax and explore yourself with fingers.
Whichever of these methods proves to be the best for you, it is advisable that you choose an intimate lubricant to aid you in achieving penetration. However, many products on the market are unsuitable for such a delicate condition, due to their lubricating properties and ingredients.
Using YES® Double Glide to overcome vaginismus
YES® products offer a unique solution to vaginismus. A renowned psychosexual therapist, Ruth Hallam Jones, devised an approach to the treatment of vaginismus using a combination of two YES® products.
To provide the sufficiently long-lasting comfort and cushioning needed to allow the woman to relax and overcome the tightening reflex in her vagina, Ruth Hallam Jones applied first a layer of protective YES® OB plant-oil based lubricant and then topped this with a layer of soft and silky YES® WB water-based lubricant. This combination of the two natural products conferred an experience of “Double Glideability”, giving the woman the confidence that penetration could be achieved without flinching, friction or pain. Read our vaginismus case study to learn more about the double glide effect.
Double glide is the name which was given to the pioneering technique which has now been widely adopted in the successful treatment of vaginismus.
In response to the popularity and therapeutic benefits of Double Glide, we have created YES® DG, which brings together YES® WB in a 100ml tube, and YES® OB in an 80ml tube, in a convenient and economic combination pack.
Professional Recommendation for YES® DG
Trudy Hannington – Psychosexual and relationship therapist and former chair of COSRT (College of Sex & Relationship Therapists) recommends using the YES® Double Glide technique:
“I have worked with hundreds of women with vaginismus and the challenge is to break the cycle of pain and fear of pain. I introduce YES®, and in particular the Double Glide technique of YES® water based applied over YES® oil based to my clients. By helping the vagina and the entrance to the vagina to feel naturally lubricated, they are able to relax, leading to more arousal, which then improves desire resulting in pain-free sex. The vicious circle can then become a virtuous circle. The feedback from my clients using YES® products is always excellent but the DG Double Glide is the most effective.”
Why use YES® lubricants to relieve vaginismus?
YES® DG is recommended by healthcare professionals as a proven method to overcome vaginismus.
- YES® lubricants provide gentle relief from dryness, irritation and discomfort.
- Deeply ‘realistic’ lubrication – feel confident in a product that can match your body’s response.
- All YES® products are formulated with ingredients that have proven track records as skin foods, so you can trust that your delicate tissues will be well cared for.
- YES® WB is pH balanced to the vaginal environment providing & maintaining a natural protection against thrush and bacterial infections.
- Certified organic, hormone and paraben free.
