Vaginismus -- update

[sakit-kepala.livejournal.com]

So, I have posted here before about having problems with painful sex (previous posts here and here). I wanted to post again to provide what is hopefully the conclusion of my story, in case it's useful for anyone else.

After the gyno said I had to go to psychosexual counselling, I returned to my GP. She didn't feel that full-scale counselling was necessary in my case, but she did decide to send me for cognitive behavioural therapy. I had my first session in early January and am expecting to have my last session next month.

It has been very helpful. I am feeling better in myself and more relaxed. After a couple of sessions I no longer felt so ashamed or upset about the vaginismus, and I didn't feel like I was defective. For this alone, I think it was worth going to CBT -- I still had the problem, but I didn't feel so bad about it. But the aim of the therapy was to actually cure the condition, and I'm pleased to report that this week my partner and I successfully had sex for the first time in over a year. There was some pain at first, but we took it very slowly, with him backing out every time it was uncomfortable, and finally it didn't hurt at all, and... it was a lot of fun :)

I know that the problem might not be completely gone yet, and I know that this approach won't work for everyone. And I certainly don't want to criticise dilators or physical therapy or any of the other treatments people use; I didn't try them, and they might well have worked too. But I think it's important to know that CBT does work for some people, and can be an option worth considering.

Comments

[gloraelin.livejournal.com]

YAY! Congratulations, that must feel great!

[sakit-kepala.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It does :)

[archangelbeth]

Oh, yay! It's good to hear things are working out. I hope everything continues to go well with you!

[sakit-kepala.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

[sakit-kepala.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

[sunbeatsclouds.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! I'm so glad you've found something that is working for you. And I really appreciate you sharing your story.

[sakit-kepala.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Well, I thought it might be useful for other people -- people often don't talk about this problem, so I figure the more information that's out there, the better.

[mirmarmelade.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad to hear something positive about CBT. It annoys me to no end when people say it isn't *real treatment* because it doesn't involve medication or traditional physical therapy. Your disclaimer at the end is unnecessary, I think - no need to be apologetic when you report something that has helped you. That only keeps the stigma intact.

Anyway, congratulations!

[sakit-kepala.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Hm well, as you probably remember, things got a bit heated last time I posted about this, and I really didn't want that to happen again, so I thought it was best to be very clear about what I was saying and what I wasn't saying. :)

[sophy.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing this! I've been struggling with vaginismus for so long and am about to embark on desensitization therapy with my therapist specifically for making it through a gyno exam first and then maybe going from there. I haven't been able to really do the other kinds of therapies because the PTSD makes it too difficult for me to even try. So it helps to know that other types of things can work. :)

[sakit-kepala.livejournal.com]

Good luck, I really hope the therapy works for you :)

[ajsuram.livejournal.com]

Wow, congratulations!!!
That's an amazing progress! I am so glad you found what works for you.

[sakit-kepala.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)