Vaginismus

When Your Body Wants to Protect You

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Pelvic health for every body

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Maybe you thought using a tampon would be simple.

Maybe you expected intimacy with your partner to feel natural and comfortable.

Or maybe you walked into a routine pelvic exam thinking, “I just need to relax.”

But then your body did something you weren't expecting.

It tightened.

Penetration hurt. Maybe it burned or stung. Maybe it felt like there was a wall stopping anything from going further. You tried to relax, but somehow the harder you tried, the more your body seemed to resist.

If this sounds familiar, vaginismus may be part of what you are experiencing.

Vaginismus happens when the pelvic floor muscles around the vaginal opening tighten automatically when penetration is attempted or sometimes even anticipated. It may happen during intercourse, tampon insertion, a Pap test, pelvic examination, or other types of vaginal penetration. The most important word here is automatically. You are not choosing to tighten these muscles, and you are not simply “bad at relaxing.”

At Peloraa

At Peloraa Physiotherapy, our approach to vaginismus treatment and pelvic floor physiotherapy in Barrhaven and Ottawa is individualized around your symptoms, your comfort, and your goals.

Understand your journey

What You Should Know About Vaginismus

Find clear, supportive answers to common questions about urinary incontinence, bladder leakage, symptoms, treatment, and pelvic health physiotherapy.

So, What Is Vaginismus Really?

Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles at the bottom of your pelvis. Like every other muscle in your body, these muscles need to be able to tighten and relax.With vaginismus,…

Why Does Vaginismus Happen?

Imagine someone suddenly throws something toward your face.You blink before you even have time to think about blinking.Your body protects you automatically.The pelvic floor can…

Is My Pelvic Floor Just Too Tight?

This is something many people wonder.But a tight pelvic floor doesn't automatically mean a strong pelvic floor.Muscles that stay tense for too long may struggle to relax,…

The Peloraa Way

The Peloraa Way: We Don't Start by Telling You to “Just Relax”

At Peloraa, we believe vaginismus treatment should begin with understanding—not forcing.

Before thinking about exercises, dilators, or internal treatment, we start by listening to your story.

When did penetration become painful? Has it always been difficult, or did something change? Is tampon use uncomfortable? Are pelvic examinations stressful? What would you like to be able to do without pain?

Maybe your goal is comfortable intercourse.

Maybe you simply want to use a tampon.

Maybe you want to attend your next Pap test without worrying about whether your body will tighten.

Your goal becomes part of your treatment.

First, We Help You Understand What Your Body Is Doing

For many people, finally understanding the why behind vaginismus can be powerful.

Your physiotherapist may help you understand how your pelvic floor works, why it may be tightening, how pain influences muscle guarding, and how your breathing and nervous system interact with your pelvic floor.

The goal isn't to tell your body to stop protecting you.

It is to gradually show your body that it may not need the same level of protection anymore.

Then, We Teach Your Pelvic Floor How to Let Go

Pelvic floor physiotherapy for vaginismus may include diaphragmatic breathing, pelvic floor relaxation, muscle lengthening, body awareness, comfortable positioning, and gentle movement.

We may also look beyond the pelvic floor itself. Tension around your hips, inner thighs, abdomen, glutes, lower back, and pelvis can sometimes influence the way your pelvic floor responds.

Over time, the goal is to help you recognize:

“My muscles are tightening.”

And then learn:

“I know how to help them relax.”

That sense of control can become an important part of recovery.

What About Internal Pelvic Floor Treatment?

This is often one of the biggest concerns people have before seeing a pelvic health physiotherapist.

So let's make this very clear:

An internal pelvic floor examination is not mandatory.

If you aren't comfortable with an internal assessment, we can start externally. You can ask questions, delay it, or decline it completely.

If internal treatment becomes appropriate and you choose it, it may help assess muscle tension, tenderness, relaxation, and coordination. But treatment should always progress according to your comfort and consent.

At Peloraa, you stay in control of your treatment.

Do I Need Vaginal Dilators?

Not everyone does.

For some people, vaginal dilators can become a useful part of vaginismus treatment. But the purpose isn't to force your body open or race toward the largest size.

Think of a dilator as a tool that may help your pelvic floor practise experiencing touch or penetration while staying relaxed and in control.

The goal is not:

“How big can I tolerate?”

The goal is:

“Can my body experience this without needing to protect me?”

Progress happens gradually and only when you feel comfortable.

You Don't Have to Push Through the Pain

If penetration has hurt for months or even years, you may have started believing that this is simply how your body works.

Maybe you have avoided intimacy.

Maybe you've stopped using tampons.

Maybe you've delayed a pelvic exam because you don't want to go through that experience again.

Those experiences deserve to be heard.

Vaginismus treatment is not about forcing your body to cooperate.

It is about understanding, relaxing, retraining, and gradually rebuilding trust in your body.

At Peloraa Physiotherapy, our approach to vaginismus treatment and pelvic floor physiotherapy in Barrhaven and Ottawa is individualized around your symptoms, your comfort, and your goals.

You don't need to arrive ready for an internal examination.

You don't need to arrive ready for a dilator.

And you don't need to have figured out why this is happening.

You just need a safe place to start.

Listen. Understand. Relax. Retrain. Restore Confidence.

That's the Peloraa Way.

Book a pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment for vaginismus at Peloraa in Barrhaven, Ottawa.

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A little more clarity

Frequently Asked Questions About Inguinal Hernias

Why can't my partner penetrate me even when I am relaxed?

Your pelvic floor may still be tightening automatically despite consciously trying to relax. Vaginismus is an involuntary response, which is why simply “trying harder to relax” may not solve the problem.

Can vaginismus make tampon insertion painful?

Yes. Tampon insertion is one of the situations in which people with vaginismus may notice pain, burning, tightening or difficulty with insertion.

Can vaginismus affect Pap tests or pelvic exams?

Yes. Vaginal muscle guarding may make speculum examinations uncomfortable or difficult. Tell your healthcare provider beforehand so the examination can be adapted to your comfort.

Can I have vaginismus if I can still have intercourse?

Yes. Symptoms exist on a spectrum. Some people cannot tolerate any penetration, while others can tolerate penetration but experience pain, tightness or difficulty.

Can vaginismus happen after childbirth?

Yes. Pain, tissue healing, pelvic floor changes and previous painful experiences can contribute to guarding after childbirth. A pelvic floor assessment may help determine what is contributing.

Can menopause cause painful penetration or vaginismus?

Hormonal changes around perimenopause and menopause can affect vaginal and vulvar tissues and may contribute to dryness, irritation and pain with penetration. Pain may then contribute to protective pelvic floor tightening. Medical treatment for tissue-related symptoms may sometimes be appropriate alongside physiotherapy.

Do I have to use vaginal dilators?

No. Dilators are one treatment option, not a requirement. Your treatment plan should reflect your symptoms, comfort and goals.

Should dilator therapy hurt?

Dilator therapy is intended to provide gradual, controlled exposure rather than forcing through significant pain. If it consistently causes pain or bleeding, discuss this with your healthcare professional before continuing.

Can pelvic floor physiotherapy cure vaginismus?

Many people improve with treatment, but results and timelines vary. Physiotherapy can address muscle guarding, pelvic floor coordination, relaxation, sensitivity and gradual tolerance to penetration. Other healthcare professionals may also be involved when additional contributors are present.

Can vaginismus come back?

Symptoms can sometimes return or fluctuate, particularly after painful experiences, childbirth, surgery, hormonal changes or periods of increased pelvic pain. Understanding your pelvic floor and having strategies to manage early symptoms may help.

Does my partner need to be involved in treatment?

Only if you want them to be.

Some people eventually include their partner in education or home strategies, while others prefer to complete treatment independently.

Your care should reflect what makes you feel safest and most comfortable.

Can I get pregnant if I have vaginismus?

Vaginismus does not directly mean that you are infertile. However, if vaginal intercourse or fertility-related examinations and procedures are difficult, it can create practical challenges when trying to conceive. Your healthcare team can discuss options based on your individual situation.

Your Period Should Not Put Your Life on Pause Every Month

You should not have to schedule work, exercise, travel, or important moments around the expectation that period pain will take over.

Peloraa offers private, personalized pelvic floor physiotherapy for painful periods, pelvic pain, and dysmenorrhea in Ottawa and Etobicoke.

We take time to understand your symptoms, assess the whole body–pelvic connection, and coordinate with your medical care when further investigation is needed.

Book a pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment with Peloraa.

Book an assessment

References & Clinical Credits

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Inguinal Hernia. National Institutes of Health.
Stabilini C, van Veenendaal N, Aasvang E, et al. Update of the International HerniaSurge Guidelines for Groin Hernia Management. BJS Open. 2023;7(5).
Shakil A, Aparicio K, Barta E, Munez K. Inguinal Hernias: Diagnosis and Management. American Family Physician. 2020;102(8):487–492.
European Hernia Society. International HerniaSurge Guidelines for Groin Hernia Management.
National Health Service. Inguinal Hernia Repair.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. Recovery After Inguinal Hernia Repair.

Medical Disclaimer‍

This page is provided for general educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose an inguinal hernia, replace an examination by a qualified healthcare provider, or provide individualized medical or surgical advice.

Physiotherapy cannot close or repair an inguinal hernia. It may support movement, physical conditioning, abdominal pressure management, and rehabilitation before or after surgery when medically appropriate.

A new or unexplained groin lump should be assessed by a physician or other qualified medical provider. Seek emergency medical care for sudden or severe pain, vomiting, fever, abdominal swelling, difficulty passing stool or gas, skin discolouration over the lump, or a firm and painful bulge that does not become smaller when lying down.

Always follow the advice and postoperative restrictions provided by your physician or surgeon.