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Glite Dictionary
vaginismus

vaginismus

1 9.9
Muscles around the vagina tighten without meaning to, making sex or medical exams painful and sometimes impossible
  • noun
  • /ˌvædʒɪˈnɪsməs/
  • Specialized
: vaginismo

And another thing that might cause pain is vaginismus.

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Examples

  • The third, a fourth-year medical student, diagnosed you as having vaginismus and recommended masturbation.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Discussion with women may reveal possible issues such as vaginismus, lack of libido, or dyspareunia, which will have implications for sex and thus the ability to conceive.

    Academic text (2015)

  • After struggling with pain during intercourse, she learned that her condition was called vaginismus.

  • The doctor explained that vaginismus is a condition that can make intimate relationships very challenging.

  • Many women experiencing vaginismus often seek therapy to better understand their condition and find relief.

Surface Forms

vaginismus singular
vaginismi plural

Morphology

vaginismus = vagina (semi-transparent) = vagina + ismus

Formed from 'vagina' + the medical suffix '-ismus' indicating a pathological condition; the general idea 'condition of the vagina' is clear, but the specific meaning (involuntary muscle spasm) is medical and not fully predictable for average learners.

Etymology

Vaginismus comes from the Latin word vagina, meaning 'sheath', and the ending -ismus, meaning 'condition'. So the word names a condition where the 'sheath' tightens, which helps explain why the vagina can close and make sex or medical exams painful.