Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A usually prolonged and painful contraction or spasm of the vagina.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A spasmodic narrowing of the orifice of the vagina. Also called vulvismus.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Med.) A painful spasmodic contraction of the vagina, often rendering copulation impossible.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun pathology A painful muscular contraction of the vagina.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun muscular contraction that causes the vagina to close; usually an anxiety reaction before coitus or pelvic examination

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[New Latin vāgīnismus : vagin(a) + Latin -ismus, -ism.]

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Examples

  • By the term vaginismus we understand a painful spasm or contraction of the vaginal orifice which makes intercourse very difficult, or impossible.

    Woman Her Sex and Love Life William J. Robinson

  • A related condition in women is vaginismus, which is involuntary spasm of the vagina, preventing entry of the penis.

    THE NATURAL REMEDY BIBLE JOHN LUST 2003

  • I suspect that you have a degree of the female condition called vaginismus, in which the vaginal muscles contract whenever an attempt at penetration is made.

    Jamaica Gleaner Online 2009

  • In following up on DePree's recommendation for vaginal dilators, I connected with Mark Carter, who has been a force in bringing resources and information about the medical condition of vaginismus to a population that he characterized as being "poorly served."

    Marcia G. Yerman: A New Look At The Older Vagina Marcia G. Yerman 2011

  • In following up on DePree's recommendation for vaginal dilators, I connected with Mark Carter, who has been a force in bringing resources and information about the medical condition of vaginismus to a population that he characterized as being "poorly served."

    Marcia G. Yerman: A New Look At The Older Vagina Marcia G. Yerman 2011

  • There is no talk about queer issues, vaginal pain or female sexual dysfunction (vaginismus is mentioned once but only in passing and is very misleading) But besides those things being sadly left out, this book is spectacular, cute and informative.

    Vaginas: An Owner’s Manual « in other words [a portland feminist and queer bookstore and blog] 2009

  • It's an ethic that makes men with prostate cancer and women with vaginismus give up sexual contact with their partners completely because they can't have "sex" anymore.

    What's the Connection?: Governor Sanford: The "Ultimate Line" Isn't Debra W. Haffner 2009

  • A few sexual partners later, I suppose I've been cured of vaginismus.

    The First Time Steven Barnes 2009

  • It's an ethic that makes men with prostate cancer and women with vaginismus give up sexual contact with their partners completely because they can't have "sex" anymore.

    Archive 2009-07-01 Debra W. Haffner 2009

  • And besides just social functions, she could have vaginismus or dysorgasmia or chronic functional pain.

    CNN Transcript Oct 17, 2007 2007

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