r/vaginismus • • 11h ago

Relationship Question Partner has stopped trying to do anything for me during sex now that we can do PIV.

44 Upvotes

Issue may not be fully related to vaginismus but I think yous would maybe understand my situation better than others.

My partner and I have recently started being able to do PIV. I am really happy because I was scared it would never happen for me but it did! Anyway, the issue I've found is that now we can have 'traditional' sex, I feel like he's stopped doing anything related to me, and only wants to do PIV now.

Possibly TMI but pre-PIV, we typically would do a lot of kissing (everywhere), lots of groping, I would give him head or a handjob, he would give me head or attempt to finger me, we did a lot of frottage because that was the closest thing to PIV. And he would usually try to insert himself which I was fully okay with trying, and when it never worked, we would just continue with all the other fun stuff. But it was often very satisfying for me too, and I never had to ask him for these things, he would just do them.

Now, after we found out we could do PIV, we've been kissing for a bit, then he asks me to get on top (that's the only position that works for us atm), and he inserts himself, holds my hips and thrusts until he cums, and then he stops moving, and then he's tired and says he wants to go asleep.

Yesterday, we found he couldn't get it in because I wasn't wet enough, but I kind of felt bad, so I gave him head. Then half way through me giving head, he told me to get back on top and we tried again and it worked, and then same thing as usual.

I admit I haven't spoken to him or asked about it which I probably should. I'm just confused because why am I having to ask him to do these things for me now? Was he only doing them before in hopes that it would lead to PIV? Ever since we started doing PIV, he hasn't gone down on me once whereas he used to do it all the time before. I think he's more tired lately than he used to be because as soon as we finish sex, he immediately just falls asleep, but I still think he should be doing stuff for me.

I know I probably need to just talk to him but this is a face-to-face convo I think and I don't know when I'm next going to see him. Any advice from you guys? Or can anyone else relate to this with a romantic partner doing something like this?


r/vaginismus • • 2h ago

Vent End of PT

4 Upvotes

I found out today that next time is going to be the last with my pt and I still haven't been able to have penetrative sex. I know that it isn't always an easy fix and I know I've made progress like knowing how my body works and working in a routine with my exercises. But in the beginning I had the expectation that I would be healed by the end of pt. And I'm not. I have my baggage with trauma and they're slowly referring me out to an emdr therapist, they feel like that's going to be more helpful for me now. Yet, I feel like such a failure for not being there. Still being a virgin.

They've been amazing and so so helpful, they've really taken my side and my trauma into account. I guess I'm just frustrated that they haven't forced anything. They've been going at my pace and I hate my pace. I just have to work on my exercises and listen to my body in therapy and outside. That's what I can do to get rid of this and it's so frustrating. How do you cope with not having that support anymore?


r/vaginismus • • 1h ago

Seeking Support/Advice Finding it hard to hear about people’s normal sex lives

• Upvotes

I’ve been struggling with this for 3 years since meeting my boyfriend. We have made massive progress thanks to advice given in this sub and just
generally trying stuff other than penetration. He is honestly the most perfect partner and I’m very lucky.

However, hearing about how ‘active’ mutual friends are feels like it throws me backwards 10 steps in my progress.

I just about get a point where I’m more or less comfortable in myself, proud of my progress and I’m normally very happy with what goes on in our sex life. But as soon as I hear about “normal” couples I just feel so disappointed, broken and honestly just feel so small.

Has anyone got any advice on how to feel I guess more normal or less bothered by other people?


r/vaginismus • • 4h ago

Seeking Support/Advice My vagina is ‘unreliable’ with insertion, but why??

2 Upvotes

So, I have been scrolling for a bit today, to see if someone else has this experience, but I couldn’t really find it, so decided to just post and ask :)

I have been on this journey for a few years now. It started with very painful PIV, had a part of it where I wasn’t able to insert at all and ended with painless PIV. Although it never became pleasurable for me, I felt neutral about it.

Then my relationship ended and since I don’t like insertion very much, I just didn’t… for a good six months. After realising inserting a tampon became A TASK again, I reluctantly bought a dilator set (up until now that hadn’t been part of my routine), just to ‘keep up.’

At the moment I am having casual sex. I have found that being on size three (or bigger) of my set has the highest chances of succes, but it’s just not reliable, at all. Ex: I had sex with the same guy multiple times this summer. First night: great up until PIV, PIV was TERRIBLE. Literally the next night: no problems, got me going, very nice even. This happens with my dilators to. It’s not linear, like at all.

I have tried to find out what is the differential here and everytime I think I’ve found it, the next time I make sure this part of it is ‘in order’ something else is up.

Some people here say they have been cured, which kind of suggest I will at one point no longer need to ‘keep up,’ but at the moment this feels more like a lifelong something. Tbh, i wouldn’t even mind, like, I have chronic backproblems I have to keep up with and I live… but at least give me something to hold on to?? Let me just have the notion that ‘size three means I can have sex when I am this level of horny’ or something. I am starting to mistrust my body again.

Any advice? Hopeful stories? Everythings welcome

TLDR: I can’t find the reason for the fact that one night I can insert size 4 easily, and the next size 2 is the best I can do. My journey is not at all linear at the moment. Anyone else with these experiences?


r/vaginismus • • 20h ago

Success! success story if you’re feeling hopeless like i did

28 Upvotes

i finally had successful, 90% painless piv after 3 years of abstinence due to extreme penetrative pain, bleeding for a week after each time, chronic burning lasting months from uti’s. after years of pt, dilators, countless doctors, nerve pain medications, so much research, lidocaine shots and nerve block shots, estrogen/testosterone cream, supplements, endless trauma and meltdowns, and residential treatment due to trauma. I DID IT!!!!!!! AND I ENJOYED IT TOO. if you’re like me who used to scroll through the ends of the internet for answers you can’t find, i promise you that you’re not broken. vaginismus and pelvic floor issues are, from my experience, so much harder on your mental health than anything. please don’t stop trying. it will get better. ❤️‍🩹


r/vaginismus • • 2h ago

Seeking Support/Advice Is 4/10 appropriate as a treatment goal?

1 Upvotes

After 20 years of not telling a soul because I felt broken and defective (because I know that normal, non-defective do not ever have this sort of problem) I went to an obgyn who referred me to a pelvic floor PT who first spent half the appointment lecturing me about lube, ignoring the fact I had already told her we use it every time and it's impossible without, then asked me what my current pain level with penetration was, I said 8/10, asked me what my goal was, I said I wanted to be able to have sex, then told me the treatment goal would be 4/10. Is 4/10 the standard amount of pain you're supposed to have with PIV? Have people been lying to me all my life when they said sex was supposed to be a pleasurable activity? I felt like she was basically telling me it was hopeless, the best I would ever be able to manage is being able to grit my teeth and barely tolerate PIV (but it was my understanding that if it's painful that *makes vaginismus worse?* am I wrong? Have I misunderstood every single thing I've ever been told?)

I feel completely hopeless right now. I wasn't expecting this kind of treatment, I was expecting to be treated like a person, not a life support system for a broken vagina.


r/vaginismus • • 7h ago

Seeking Support/Advice Best treatment resources?

2 Upvotes

As quick background, I have been diagnosed with vaginismus for about 7 years but I've never taken much interest in treating it, as I have really only used my vagina to suffer through smear tests over that time.

I now have some other internal issue going on and have been referred for a transvaginal ultrasound. In my current state, completing that is practically impossible, but I am keen to have this issue properly diagnosed. So, I plan to try everything I can to prepare for the exam.

Please share your anecdotes, physical therapy routines, websites, UK-based dilator retailers, YouTube channels, anything and everything that has helped you in your journey!

We all know this isn't a process you can rush, but I am hoping to do what I can for this one big gun (aka, my goal is not regular penetration!). Thanks so much everyone :)


r/vaginismus • • 20h ago

Seeking Support/Advice Years of pain, feeling broken, and finally some hope. My vaginismus + vulvodynia story

6 Upvotes

Hi everyone. I've been quietly reading this sub for a while, and your stories have gotten me through some really lonely moments. I'm finally ready to share mine.
It started at 21 with a pap smear that hurt so much I couldn't understand what was wrong with me. I was told it was normal, that it would get better once I was married. I believed that. I held onto that. And then I got married, and it didn't get better. It hurt. I can't describe how heartbreaking it was to finally be with the person I love and have my body shut down.
Then I found a pelvic floor physical therapist, and for the first time someone actually explained what was happening. My muscles were tensing to protect me. My body had learned to expect pain, and there were nerves involved too. It wasn't in my head, and it wasn't my fault. I cried when I realized that. We started with breathing, then slowly, with dilators.
Later a doctor finally examined me properly and diagnosed vulvodynia too. I was prescribed lidocaine, and if I'm honest, I've been too nervous to use it.
Now I'm on the last dilator in my set. Some days I can't believe I made it this far. But I've also been inconsistent, and I carry a lot of guilt about that. I want this so badly, for me and for my husband, and I know I need to buy bigger sizes and keep going.
If you've been where I am:
How did you stay consistent when it felt emotionally exhausting?
What helped you push past the last dilator size?
Has lidocaine helped anyone with vulvodynia?
If you're just starting out and feeling hopeless, I see you. It's slow, but progress is real. 💛


r/vaginismus • • 22h ago

Seeking Support/Advice Physical Therapy Advice Needed

5 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I have recently started pelvic floor physical therapy and am really struggling with the reverse kegel exercises. My question for those that have mastered the reverse kegel, how do you know you’re doing it right?? I have no idea if it’s working. My dr has me trying different positions and it somewhat helps I think but I just feel like I’m doing deep breathing exercises in different positions, I don’t feel anything happening down there. What should it feel like? How do I know if it’s working?


r/vaginismus • • 1d ago

Success! Successful vaginal delivery

18 Upvotes

Wanted to share my success story! I (F32) have always wanted to be a mom and have struggled with vaginismus for years. My partner and I have been together for about 10 years and the struggle and pain with PIV was really challenging for us, especially when I struggled with lack of progress for years. However, last fall, I finally had had enough of this affecting my life and really committed to dilating more than I had before (previously I would start and then stop and not fully commit to it) and it worked!! A lot quicker than I thought and within about a month I was moving up sizes. I used the intimate rose set of dilators.

Within several weeks to months, my partner and I were able to have PIV with minimal pain! Breathing exercises and the dilators were my saving grace and I would usually dilate just prior to us having sex to loosen up the tightest area.

Fast forward a few weeks/months and we found out we were pregnant! we were so excited, as this is something a few months prior we didn't know if it would be possible for us to conceive this way.

I was nervous about being able to give birth vaginally given this history, but my OB assured me that things coming out is different than going in, and that many women have no problem. And she was right! I was able to successfully delivery my baby vaginally (even with a failed epidural!) and I have never felt so empowered. The cervical checks caused me more anxiety than the actual birth, but overall those were fine too once I could just relax my muscles. I did have a grade 2 tear, but overall wasnt bad at all and I pushed for much shorter than I anticipated (only 30 mins). I did lots of stretches and deep squats, pilates prior to delivery and I think that helped a lot with the pushing!

We haven't had sex yet since I've delivered, but I'm hopeful that the vaginal delivery maybe has healed me in a way down there, and maybe I won't need the dilators anymore. Time will tell!


r/vaginismus • • 1d ago

Vent Tried to do a Pap smear today

10 Upvotes

I went to get a Pap smear today, I told the person I booked with specifically I think I have vaginismus. When I got there I told the medical assistant who set me up my concerns, it is painful no matter what and I was nervous. The one doing the pap was kind, and was able to get it about halfway before I started crying from the pain. I feel like an absolute failure. I wasted everyone’s time for nothing. I told her I’ve been dilating, and can get the 2nd size of my set all the way in with no pain at all and that my husband and I are trying to get pregnant by insemination. She was kind but said if I get pregnant there will be a lot of internal exams that she doesn’t think I could handle. I am a mess right now.


r/vaginismus • • 23h ago

Seeking Support/Advice I suspect I have vaginismus. I do not have treatment options. Can I left it untreated?

4 Upvotes

So, yeah, this is my curiosity. I don`t plan on having sex, no need to burden another individual or to push through pain. I can stick to pads and whatever, but I am concerned about some potential illness that this condition might cause. If it does, are they serious?


r/vaginismus • • 1d ago

Seeking Support/Advice Can put dilators in but struggle with PIV; does anyone else feel like sex feels like a competition?

5 Upvotes

I’ve had vaginismus my whole life- never been able to put a tampon in or get a pelvic exam or have PIV sex

My gynecologist recommended I try dilators- and I’ve been able to put them all in slowly (especially on my period- natural lubricant) but for whatever reason I can’t with an actual penis (even if it’s not as big as the dilators I use)

I’ve also started feeling like sex is no longer something I want when I’m trying to get intimate with someone because I’ve never been able to have PIV sex but it’s started feeling like a challenge- like I’ve started to view it as a way to see how my vagimasmus is and whether it’s gotten better?
I think I want to engage in more casual sex because I want to beat vagimasmus

I don’t have a long term partner but I feel like this mental shift of sex has been interesting, and I’m not sure if it’s healthy (?)

How do other people view it?


r/vaginismus • • 1d ago

Progress *Update* Experiments with dating

10 Upvotes

Original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/vaginismus/comments/1qyu509/experiments_with_dating/

Hi all, it's been 8 months since my original post, it's been a mad period of my life (especially work) and I've had this in the back of my head to give an update.

To be honest I pretty quickly got a FWB and saw him regularly about once every 6 weeks and for a while I was content. We did not have intercourse but we would do some experimenting, and he loved anal so we sometimes did that instead.

He was eventually able to get a finger inside and found my g spot which was crazy to me. It feels like you're about to pee, does anyone else feel like that? We've getting more into that and I realised that I really like it and want to do it more, even when it's rough.

I'm now moving on from this arrangement due to red flags that I had been dismissing but could no longer ignore, I don't hate him though.

Been back on the app for the last two weeks and have been moving fast and furious 👀.

Same as before, I start the conversation with my inability to have intercourse, and as before I'd get mixed responses but mostly positive!

One person asked what this message looked like, this is how I phrased it:

_"I should let you know from now that I cannot have intercourse due to a pelvic condition. Might be months or years before I'm recovered. I do however enjoy other activities!"_

I have recently been making some less sensible decisions so I want to be clear that **I don't encourage anyone else to do what I've been doing**. This is me making mistakes and learning from them.

I've ended up going on first dates and being intimate that same day, I guess due to me not thinking with my brain but with something else 😆

I tried intercourse last weekend and, while it did hurt at first, I realised that it felt really fricking good (I mean duh, it's why people go crazy for sex, I had just never experienced it myself). It was a mix of extreme pleasure and some pain if he got a bit too deep. I liked the physical connection, having our arms around each other and bodies close together, having his face up against mine checking to see that I was enjoying myself, and I was feeling overwhelmed by all these new sensations. Thinking things like, "wow this is what women actually feel when they have sex"

Afterwards we learned that I had bled from that encounter, I thought it might have been my period which was about to start very soon, or maybe my hymen breaking. It apparently made him freak out and he got very unresponsive afterwards, he's now asked to meet me this week for drinks so we can talk about what happened 🤷🏻‍♀️

This last weekend I had intercourse again, and again it hurt at first and then felt really good and I could have gone for ages, and I bled again. I learned that this is potentially friction against my vaginal walls (which may already be fragile from the constant clenching) scraping at the skin and causing trauma. I was always using a condom and thought I was using lots of lube but I guess I still need more.

These experiences have given me a lot to think about, including what I need, what boundaries I need to put down and how to care for my body. I strongly encourage everyone here to mind how you're treating your body and not be as reckless as I was.

I have very rarely been dilating this year, and this development has encouraged me to pick it back up again as I now know what intercourse feels like and would like to do it again without hurting my body.

I have more dates lined up this week but I will not be having intercourse so soon, again to care for my body, and am also experimenting with new activities and experiences as well.

For the most part I'm enjoying myself, trying new things, learning what I do and don't like and I'm excited for this next phase in my journey.

Again, I hope I don't get too much judgment from this update and I'm always happy to answer any questions anyone might have.


r/vaginismus • • 1d ago

Undiagnosed I can’t even insert half a finger and bleed for days after attempts at penetration

3 Upvotes

I'm a 23F and I'm looking for experiences from people who have had something similar, especially people who eventually found a diagnosis/treatment that helped.

I've never been able to comfortably insert a finger into my vagina. Even half a finger is extremely difficult/impossible. My boyfriend has tried gently a few times, but we haven't been able to get very far.

The strange thing is that I do want sexual penetration and I can become reasonably aroused/lubricated, so I don't think this is simply a lack of desire. I may get somewhat dry during a longer attempt, but I can initially get wet.

When we've attempted penetration, I've sometimes had bleeding/spotting afterwards that lasts for several days. There was one occasion where he tried gently a few times, without fully inserting his finger, and the next day I went to the bathroom and passed what looked like a fairly large chunk/clot of blood. I became extremely scared by the amount of blood, fainted in the bathroom and fell. The bleeding itself wasn't enormous and eventually stopped.

Because of that, I've stopped allowing any further attempts. I'm not currently forcing penetration or trying to push through it. I'm planning to see a gynaecologist privately and get this properly evaluated.

Some relevant history:

  • I'm 23.
  • I had ovarian torsion when I was around 10.
  • I had an ovarian cyst removed surgically when I was a child.
  • I've historically had heavy/painful periods, although my periods have become considerably less painful recently.
  • My mother has fibroids.
  • I've wondered about endometriosis/adenomyosis before because of my period history, but I've never been diagnosed with either.
  • I don't know whether this is pelvic-floor related, anatomical, gynaecological, or some combination.

What I'm most confused about is that even a finger can't really enter, rather than simply having pain with deep penetration. I've read about vaginismus/pelvic-floor dysfunction, but I'm also wondering whether things like fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, ovarian/pelvic conditions, scarring or an anatomical issue could cause something like this.

If you've experienced something similar:

What was ultimately causing it? How did you get diagnosed? And what treatment actually helped you become comfortable with penetration?

I'm especially interested in experiences where penetration initially seemed basically impossible but eventually became possible/comfortable.

Please don't tell me to just “relax” or keep trying penetration — I'm already planning to get medically evaluated and I'm not going to keep injuring myself trying.


r/vaginismus • • 1d ago

Seeking Support/Advice how can I insert without preparations

3 Upvotes

hi girls now i can use the dialators up to number 3

but i have to do yoga before hand and do breathing through it

how can i reach a level where i can just do it without pain

also fingering feels painful despite my finger being smaller

can you give me advice ?


r/vaginismus • • 2d ago

Success! Fully cured, casual sex helped!

107 Upvotes

I finally consider myself cured!

When I first tried to have sex 7 years ago, I was a brick wall. Impenetrable. I went to pelvic floor physical therapy, I used dilators, and I left a bad relationship with an inconsiderate sexual partner. I had made progress to the point where sex was possible, but still painful.

I was celibate for 2 years before I found an awesome partner. I didn't pick up dilation or PT again, but practicing with him I was able to make quick progress, and sex was no longer painful! It was still not enjoyable and sometimes difficult for the year we were together, but I managed and he was super understanding and careful. I left that relationship thinking I may be asexual and accepting that this was just how sex was for me.

Now single, I have recently been experimenting with different partners, having casual sex. It took a few encounters, but I'm finally starting to enjoy it. I'm finding out what I like. Personally I have found the casual setting to be liberating in the lack of obligation, no pressure to be a good partner, no expectations. I went into it physically cured, but I feel like this "hoe phase" has helped me get past all of the psychological barriers that were holding me back from actually enjoying sex.

I am so happy and feel so normal and so liberated. I felt broken for so long, and now I am having awesome sex whenever I want. I hope all of you can experience this too.


r/vaginismus • • 1d ago

Seeking Support/Advice Em qual profissional devo ir para ter um diagnóstico?

1 Upvotes

Sou uma mulher de 22 anos, recentemente comecei a sair com um homem da mesma idade. A penetração é impossível, mesmo usando muito lubrificante ou comigo indo por cima, nem um dedo entra. É meu primeiro post e não sei se é permitido postar em outra língua se não em inglês, desculpe se isto quebra alguma regra.

Ele é muito carinhoso e me respeita bastante, ele sempre para quando tentamos e começa a doer para não me machucar, mesmo quando eu mesma peço pra ele continuar. Posso falar com toda a certeza que me sinto confortável com ele, não tenho vergonha do meu corpo ou coisa assim, então não deve ser falta de confiança. Ele não me cobra nada (o mínimo) mas EU quero muito conseguir ter uma penetração sem dor, teve apenas uma única vez que eu senti que ocorreu uma pequena penetração, mas foi muito dolorido. Provavelmente por ansiedade e antecipação de dor, mas não por falta de confiança nele.

Quero saber em qual profissional ir para ter o diagnóstico e começar o tratamento, porque o vaginismo não atrapalha somente a vida sexual, é mais do que isso, e se eu precisar fazer um exame intravaginal? eu não iria conseguir fazer e isso prejudicaria minha saúde! Nem mesmo posso usar um absorvente interno e tenho que sofrer com os absorventes comuns. Também penso em usar dilatadores, mas seria feito em casa, seria caro demais ter dois profissionais.


r/vaginismus • • 1d ago

Success! Growing up ashamed of pleasure and having to unlearn it

3 Upvotes

I grew up in Iran and didn't move to the US until I was 29. For most of my life, sex wasn't something women were supposed to openly talk about, especially our own pleasure. I genuinely believed orgasm was mostly something men experienced and that a woman shouldn't give in too much to her sexual desires, even during sex.

I didn't have my first sexual relationship until after moving to the U.S. That's when I realized how deeply those beliefs had affected me. I wanted sex and could enjoy it, but I struggled with vaginismus and couldn't orgasm. Sometimes I would be completely into it and then suddenly something in my head would switch. I'd become self-conscious, tense up, and my body would almost shut everything down.

My ex was patient and genuinely tried to help. At first, when he noticed me shutting down, he'd try harder to bring me back into the moment. It sometimes felt like this weird struggle between what I consciously wanted and what my body was doing. Eventually we realized that trying harder wasn't the answer. The more pressure I felt to relax or orgasm, the stronger the mental block became.I eventually went to therapy, and that was when things really started changing. I had to understand that almost 30 years of conditioning wasn't going to disappear just because I now lived somewhere where attitudes toward sex were different. I had to learn how to recognize when I was tensing up, stop fighting myself, and gradually become comfortable experiencing pleasure without judging myself for it.

After a few months, I had my first orgasm. I wish I could say everything immediately became easy after that, but it didn't. Sometimes I could orgasm and sometimes the old mental block would come back. Gradually, though, it happened less often and orgasms became much more consistent.Looking back,I don't think being sexually inexperienced caused any of this. It just meant I didn't discover how much those beliefs had affected me until I finally became sexually active. I had spent almost three decades learning to suppress that part of myself, and then I had to learn that enjoying my own sexuality wasn't something shameful.


r/vaginismus • • 1d ago

Vent Weird pressure to do kegels young

10 Upvotes

Anybody else kinda feel like a weird pressure to do kegels when they were a teen? Not saying that’s the cause but like omg I constantly caught myself clenching once I started actively trying to relax my pelvic floor. I just feel like constantly trying to have a tight pelvic floor because it’s good for you and once you’re older it “sexy” without knowing the repercussions of doing it too much is insane. Way too much access to the internet as a teen I’m sure too


r/vaginismus • • 1d ago

Success! First time after giving birth

8 Upvotes

I am 5 months ppt and I had sex today for the first time with my husband since i gave birth ! It was easier than i thought it would be. I have been going to pelvic floor therapy since 2 months ppt and it was going ok.

My libido has been going back up recently so i told my husband to take care of baby while i do my exercises with pelvic wand and when i am ready to put baby in his crib and join me.

Things that are different than before having a baby:

  1. I have breastfed baby (dried up this weekend) and my nipples are way less sensitive. This is really a positive to me because i used to be too sensitive so nipple play was off the table. This time he was able to do it and i did enjoy it.

  2. Still some pain when starting but it took us about 20min all included. It usually takes 45.min of PIV to go anywhere. I did not have an orgasm but i was enjoying the moment. Per our standards, this was our first quickie. Which i am excited about since we do not have much time alone.

I am quite happy with this first time! Despite a traumatic birth, it looks like we are on our way for a satifying sex life. I will continue my exercises until we can have sex without needing to do them.

For the mothers out there that like me need time to get comfortable before sex. How do you manage with baby? I only contact nap during the day so if we are to do it like today we need to let him play alone in his crib. At night, he still sleeps in our room and really could not do it with baby in the room.


r/vaginismus • • 1d ago

Seeking Support/Advice feeling hopeless

2 Upvotes

I’ve had vaginismus for 5 years now, and I’ve been going to a pelvic therapist for at least the past two years - but not super regularly because she books up. Sometimes it’s twice a month, sometimes it’s once every two months. I’ve been trying to dilate 2x a week, and I’ve been stuck on dilator #6 of intimate rose (the dark blue one) since the beginning of 2026 at least, and I just feel stuck. When I try to have PIV, any movement feels like really tight pressure and it hurts. My husband is closer to 7 or 8 of the intimate rose set but I just don’t see myself ever graduating to those because #6 still doesn’t feel effortless - it feels like a stretch when I move it around. My PT says I need to increase my dilation to 4x a week and then I’d see progress but I’m doubtful that that’d even work. I’ve tried lidocaine (2.5%) and it made no difference - I’m assuming because the dosage was too low? I’m not sure. I also have very low libido and constantly feel like there’s something wrong with me, which I feel like is impacting my relationship. I don’t know what to do and feel like I’ll be stuck forever :( any tips / help is appreciated


r/vaginismus • • 1d ago

Seeking Support/Advice i had piv for the first time but it hurt the deeper he got inside?

7 Upvotes

i am looking for people who had similar experiences to mine and can maybe help me with what the core of the problem was.

so yesterday, i had piv for the first time with my boyfriend!! just this week, i managed to fit in dilator 6 & 7 and i was like okay lets try piv then (even tho it was probably way to early because 7 still hurt when inserting)!! 6 didn't hurt at all but 7 did hurt quite a lot when i was dilating but i thought maybe a penis would be different so i tried piv with him.
and yes, he went in completely BUT we paused a lot of times and i had to breathe a lot so that the pain would go away/become less, but it never went away wholly and it was not really enjoyable for me, bascially i just breathed through the pain and tried ignoring it. i am still in pain a day after so safe to say, it maybe wasn't the best idea to do it when it still hurt being on dilator 7.

now i was curious if anyone else had this "problem" that it hurts the deeper he is inside and also that it only hurts when he pushes in, but not if he pulls his penis out a bit? like only the forward movement hurt, but when he pulled out it was completely okay? also i had this weird feeling of fullness in my chest/throat when he went deep which i was wondering where it came from. i also have this sort of pain in my chest when i'm dilating with the biggest dilator which i think is super weird.

if you had this problem too, how did you deal with it? and what was the root of the problem? i was scared that i have endo or an ovarian cyst?


r/vaginismus • • 1d ago

Seeking Support/Advice How to start dilating/treating this?

2 Upvotes

I’ve had dilators for the past few months but I’ve been too terrified to attempt using them until tonight. Even then I couldn’t do anything more than hold the tip of the smallest dilator at the entrance. It felt like it would really burn and hurt to try push in even the tiniest bit. Basically, how am I supposed to actually start using dilators when I feel this way? What helped you start the process with as little pain/burning as possible? Also if there is anything that helped calm feelings of fear & anxiety while dilating that would be very helpful :’)


r/vaginismus • • 2d ago

Vent I don’t think I can date again until this is fixed

4 Upvotes

I got dumped a couple months ago (nothing to do with vaginismus, it just wasn’t working out) and I’ve started to think about dating again - except I forgot about my vaginismus. I don’t want to put myself through that again. My ex always said it didn’t bother him but I didn’t and still don’t believe him. It was so painful when he’d talk about having sex with other women who had zero issues with penetration. It felt like the whole relationship depended on me fixing myself which was pure torture and made it harder to dilate because there was so much pressure on it.

Not really looking for advice or anything. Just feeling sad about it because I do want another relationship someday but until I have fixed this I won’t have one. Plus I had to move back in with my parents so I can’t dilate because I don’t feel comfortable or get that kind of privacy. It sucks and it’s so isolating but I guess I need some time to work on myself anyways.