For those new to the term, vaginismus is a sexual dysfunction in which the vaginal muscles involuntarily contract during sex. As you can imagine, this makes it difficult for the penis to enter the vaginal tract, resulting in painful intercourse that increases the difficulty of conception.
But how common is vaginismus? According to the scientific literature, the prevalence rate of vaginismus is around 5-17%, making it one of the more common sexual dysfunctions among people with a vagina. So, if you’re struggling with this condition, know that you’re not alone.
The good news is, for people with vaginismus who are trying to conceive, you can still achieve your dream of having a child — with a little help from twoplus Fertility.
That’s what J, a Singapore-based preschool teacher in her mid-30s, found out when she chanced upon the twoplus Fertility Applicator. The best part? She got pregnant on her first try with this at-home insemination tool.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is not intended as medical advice.
J shares how she got pregnant with twoplus
Interview responses were edited for clarity.
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself! How did you find out about twoplus Fertility?
A: I’m a preschool teacher. My husband and I have been married for four years, and we always wanted kids of our own, so [we] intentionally started trying this year.
I first learned about twoplus through Googling about syringe methods that can help couples like my husband and me. We wanted to find a syringe method we could try for conceiving [a child].
Q: How long have you been trying to conceive (TTC)?
A: 6-12 months.
Q: Do you experience any issues with sexual intercourse?
A: I have very mild vaginismus.
Q: Besides vaginismus, were there any other fertility struggles before your pregnancy? Did you decide to see a fertility doctor at some point?
A: We saw a gynaecologist after three months of trying unsuccessfully*. I was worried that it was either something wrong with my uterus or that my husband’s sperm count was possibly low.
The gynaecologist said that the main issue was my vaginismus and suggested we use the syringe method since that would ease the pain.
He also mentioned that women with severe vaginismus can’t even insert anything inside their vaginas, so it would take a lot of therapy and help before they can actually use something like the Applicator. He also recommended the use of dilators to me, but I didn’t use them because I wanted to try the syringe method first.
*A note from twoplus: Fertility screenings and tests, like sperm count tests for men and hormone tests for women, are the recommended first steps by healthcare professionals for any TTC couples who have trouble getting pregnant. If you’d like to find out about your fertility hormone levels in the comfort and privacy of your own home, check out the twoplus Hormone Test Kit.
Q: What have you tried in your conception journey before using twoplus Fertility?
A: My husband and I tried naturally for a few months, and we also used an ordinary syringe that didn’t work.
I used an app to help me track my ovulation days and period days. We tried consistently before, during, and after my fertile period during those months.
After five months, we tried the twoplus Fertility Applicator just once this month (October 2022). And we got pregnant on our very first try!
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Q: What did you like most about the twoplus Applicator?
A: It was very comfortable, and I could hardly feel it go in when I inserted it.
Q: We were glad you found the Applicator comfortable and didn’t notice its presence! Did you have any trouble using the Applicator?
A: No trouble. Instructions were clear and easy to follow. I was amazed that it was so easy to insert compared to a normal syringe!
Q: Did you adopt any lifestyle changes to improve your odds of conceiving? If so, what were they?
A: I ate folic acid supplements a few months before we tried, and I cut down on caffeine and unhealthy foods to try to conceive. I also exercised more to be healthy when I became pregnant.
Q: Is this your first successful pregnancy? Do you have other children?
A: Yes. This is our first pregnancy and our very first child.
Q: What would you have done differently if you could go back to the beginning of your TTC journey? Also, what would you suggest to other couples who are TTC?
A: I would still try naturally to begin with, then go see a doctor if nothing is working after a few months. The clinical visit can help me (or the couple trying to conceive) determine if more help is needed and get to the root cause of infertility.
For example, in my case, I didn’t know mild vaginismus would be a problem for me and affect my chances of conceiving.
Q: Would you recommend the Applicator to other women who may have difficulties with natural conception? What would be your advice to them?
A: Yes, I’ll definitely recommend the Applicator to other women, especially those with vaginismus. Pain during sex just spoils the mood. For me, sex was not enjoyable and even stressful, knowing we needed to do it to conceive.
The Applicator helped give me the peace of mind that there was another way to conceive and not head down the IVF route straight away, as it would be very costly for us.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to tell us about?
A: I was prepared to purchase a few more Applicators, but since we got pregnant on our first try, we are very hopeful and happy.
I would highly recommend it to women who have discomfort and pain during sex. It’s really easy to use and helpful in relieving stress in conceiving!
Create Your Happy Ending, Even With Vaginismus
Vaginismus need not be an uncrossable obstacle when trying to conceive, especially for mild cases.
Firstly, seek medical advice from a licensed healthcare professional for the severity of your symptoms and treatment options. At the same time, it won’t hurt to get your fertility levels checked. If you prefer privacy and convenience for fertility testing, choose an at-home alternative like the twoplus Hormone Test Kit.
Once you get the green light from your primary doctor to try non-surgical methods, you may consider at-home conception tools like the twoplus Applicator or the twoplus Sperm Guide.
Our home conception kits are designed to be safe, affordable, and intimate when trying for a child. This way, you can create your happy ending of a successful pregnancy.
Did you love reading about other people's success stories when trying to conceive? If you wish to share your experience of getting pregnant after using twoplus' products, share your story via this form. Bonus: You'll be rewarded for your efforts!