As many as 75% of women will experience some sort of pain during sex at some point in their lives. Vaginismus is a relatively common condition known to affect around 1 in 5 women – however, it is believed that vaginismus is highly undiagnosed due to a variety of factors such as sexual health stigma. Promising research has emerged, introducing CBD into the world of pelvic health and sex. At Altmed, our experts are here to offer a greater insight to CBD for vaginismus and sexual health related matters.
Vaginismus is an involuntary and/ or persistent contraction of the pelvic floor muscles. Often referred to as ‘hitting a wall’, these contractions can make penetration extremely painful, difficult, or even impossible. This can occur via:
Vaginismus pain varies from woman to woman – some can experience mild to severe, excruciating pain. Sometimes, vaginismus can also suddenly appear throughout a person’s life despite experiencing no sexual pain during previous sexual encounters for years.
Vaginismus is classified into two types:
There are a variety of potential causes of vaginismus, including:
While it is true that majority of pain experienced during sex occurs moreso for cisgender women, pelvic floor muscles are not entirely exclusive to one particular gender. The lack of conversations surrounding pelvic and sexual health in relation to transgender and non binary people has the potential to invalidate their experiences surrounding their pain – consequently, they are less likely to seek treatment for vaginismus.
Cannabis has recently been introduced to the world of pelvic and sexual health. As cannabis is a well-known anti-inflammatory and natural form of pain relief – it suggests that CBD products could potentially relieve the pain of vaginismus patients in a variety of ways. Some products we recommend at Altmed include:
Ingesting or massaging CBD oil into your muscles is a great way to relieve your body of stress. For many, high levels of anxiety can significantly impact the outcome of vaginal penetration. CBD can help to relax and soften the muscles of the pelvic floor – thererfore, helping to alleviate stress, with the added hope of increasing libido.
CBD lube can greatly help with vaginal penetration and pain as it decreases both irritation and inflammation. By reducing tension within the pelvic floor muscles, pain from vaginismus can be alleviated.
However, a point to note is that CBD lubes are oil-based, meaning that they are not safe to use with condoms. Since oil can cause latex to tear, it is important to keep in mind other avenues of protection when considering using CBD lubes.
CBD suppositories are small round or cone-shaped medications designed to be inserted into the vagina or anus. The suppositories dissolve and are absorbed by the body.
Vaginal suppositories in particular are generally used for:
Studies have shown that CBD may amplify sex drive and increase sexual pleasure across a variety of ways. In particular, using CBD frequently may potentially contribute to improved pain for vaginismus, better orgasms, higher sexual satisfaction, and higher levels of arousal.
All in all, CBD products may be a great option for people suffering from vaginismus. If you are currently experiencing any pelvic or sex-related pain, please consult your doctor immediately. At Altmed, we’re proud to be Australia’s No.1 resource for CBD. Visit our site for more information on what we do and related CBD content.
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