Time and time again, our patients come to us with an extreme fear of dilation. They almost all have purchased dilators from various sources to try the “dilation method” on their own. After purchasing, some of them cannot even open the box and look at them when they arrive. Some are able to open the box but unable to use them. Even after reading the book that comes with these dilators, they are unsuccessful. These dilators then sit in the box week after week, month after month, year after year causing the woman to feel like a complete failure.
These women are told by their therapists and/or doctors that overcoming vaginismus is within their power and that they need to be motivated to dilate. What is not understood here is that women with severe vaginismus (Lamont Level 4 and Pacik Level 5) have
“PHYSICAL” spasms that prevents them from inserting the dilator.
The Tightly Closed Fist and the Vaginismus Woman
If one can just imagine a tightly closed fist and then trying to insert a finger from your other hand into that closed fist – the finger cannot enter – it is just impossible – it seems like you are “hitting a wall”. This is exactly what it is like for women suffering from severe vaginismus when they are trying to dilate or having any type of penetration or intercourse.
Dilation Under Anesthesia with the Botox Treatment
Our Botox Treatment Program for vaginismus is so unique because our patients are put under anesthesia for their Botox injections and for their post-injection dilation. By using vaginal Botox injections and inserting a dilator under anesthesia, patients obtain fast and dramatic improvement. Vaginismus sufferers who previously could not tolerate being touched are able to self-dilate to the largest dilator within three hours after their procedure. They continue to self-dilate the next day even after the long-acting anesthetic has worn off, and before the Botox has taken effect. Some may even allow their partner to assist in dilating!
Success with Dilation Leads to Intercourse
It is always uplifting to witness a woman with Lamont Level 4 or Pacik Level 5 vaginismus to wake up from the anesthesia to realize that she has a dilator in place. One of our early patients later told me that waking up in the recovery room with the dilator “flipped a switch” in her brain. Unable to tolerate any form of penetration due to intense fear, she progressed from treatment to intercourse in 12 days and sent me the following email:
“Day 12: My husband & I tried to have intercourse for the first time. It actually happened!!!!!! LOL. I felt relief and so grateful that I wasn’t the one person the Botox did not work on. I feel like I have a real marriage now. I feel triumphant! Thank you God and thank you Dr. Pacik!”
Seeing and Feeling the Dilator an Aha Moment
Time and time again, we are able to witness many of our patients waking up from anesthesia and realizing that they have a dilator in place. They are all thrilled to realize that their anatomy is normal and that their body can accommodate a dilator! This is truly an aha moment — a defining moment where they gain real wisdom — wisdom that they can use to change their life! This gives me great joy.
Contact Us for More Information
If you have any questions about our Botox treatment for vaginismus and progressive dilation under anesthesia, please contact us via our contact us form.
Image used with permission from 123RF.
