Smartballs and vagismus

Janine asked:

I’m just wondering as I have vaginismus if SmartBalls Uno are a good idea to use to help my pelvic floor muscles, as they are so weak that I have incontinence a lot and have to go through 2 pads a day of super pads.

I would love to not use pads but just ordinary liners but as I have vaginismus I thought I’d better ask first.

Your advice will be fully appreciated.

Advice Grrl answered:

For those who don’t know, Vaginismus is a condition which affects a woman’s ability to engage in any form of vaginal penetration, including sexual intercourse, tampons, and smears.  This is a reflex spasm – an uncontrolled one much like an eyelid closing when something comes toward the eye suddenly – which is not consciously controlled. There are varying degrees of vaginismus.

Janine, given we don’t know the severity of your vaginismus, the possible cause of it, or the history behind it, it is very difficult to suggest what might be useful. While the Smartball Uno is generally very good as a start-point to strengthen the pelvic floor muscle when it is as weak as yours, the size of the Smartballs (while not an issue in many cases) may well be prohibitive for you.

We strongly recommend seeing your health professional – a gynaecologist, in this instance. It may be that vaginal dilators (your gynaecologist will be able to tell you more about these), pelvic floor exercises, and possibly using a slim pelvic floor strengthener later on are the way to go in this instance.

Best of luck!