It’s not about conquering the dilator—it’s about reclaiming your comfort and control.
What Is Vaginismus?
Vaginismus is a condition where the muscles around the vagina involuntarily tighten, making penetration painful or impossible. It can occur due to a variety of reasons, including past trauma, medical procedures, anxiety, or unknown causes. The good news is—vaginismus is treatable, especially with targeted pelvic floor therapy.
What are dilators and how do they help in treatment of vaginismus?
Vaginal dilators are medical-grade tools that gently stretch the vaginal muscles over time. They come in graduated sizes and are designed to help desensitize the pelvic floor, reduce muscle guarding, and restore confidence in your body.
When used under the guidance of a skilled pelvic floor physical therapist, dilators can:
Decrease fear and anxiety around penetration
Improve tissue flexibility and tolerance
Retrain the pelvic floor to relax instead of clench
Support a safe, gradual return to pain-free intimacy
“The pelvic floor is not the enemy—it’s trying to protect you. We need to work with it, not against it.”
When using dilators, it is recommended to approach the practice with curiosity, not force. Slow, mindful desensitization using breathwork, visualization, and nervous system regulation techniques in tandem with physical work is necessary.
At our clinic in Bethesda, your care will always be trauma-informed, collaborative, and focused on restoring your comfort—not just achieving physical milestones. We’ll teach you how to use dilators in a way that respects your pace and builds confidence, not pressure.