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'My body won't let me have sex'

Vaginismus is a sexual pain disorder where women experience an involuntary tightening of muscles around the vagina whenever penetration is attempted.
Few know about it, even though a 2017 study found that nearly one in 10 British women find sex painful.
Vaginismus can develop at any time throughout a woman’s life and can appear after they experience anything from thrush or childbirth to sexual trauma or the menopause.
But some sufferers discover they have the condition when they try – and fail – to have sex for the first time. Shame and taboo often stops them from seeking help, despite it being curable.
Producer: Sophia Smith Galer,
Camera: Soraya Auer

Release date:

Duration:

8 minutes