The 22-year-old woman revealed to us that she had sex problems after her strict religious upbringing. She developed a condition where her vagina closed up, causing severe pain when it comes time for penetration.
Bailey Krawczyk is an Alexandria videographer. She first noticed something different when she was 13 years old, and couldn’t use any tampons.
She decided at the time that it was because she was still growing.
Bailey, 21 years of age, decided that Bailey should seek medical attention because she couldn’t insert tampons with no pain.
This was when she was first diagnosed with vaginismus. Vaginismus, a common but often overlooked condition, is thought to affect anywhere from five to 17 percent of women around the world.
Vaginismus causes the vaginal muscles of women to contract when they are exposed to penetration. This can cause severe pain when inserting tampons or during sex.
An 22-year old woman has shared that she was so afraid of having sex because her religious upbringing led her to develop a condition where her vagina became close-up.
Bailey Krawczyk from Alexandria, Virginia is a videographer. When she was 13, Bailey realized that something wasn’t right.
When she was 21 and had just turned 21, she saw a doctor, who diagnosed her as having vaginismus. It is a condition which affects 5-17% of women around the world. As a young child, she is shown here
Vaginal problems can be treated with a combination vaginal dilators and pelvic floor exercises.
Bailey started her journey to treat her vaginismus. She was surprised to learn that both her Christian upbringing and the common myths surrounding sex for women had contributed to the development of this condition.
Bailey grew up in an extremely religious home and was raised to fear penetration.
Additionally, her memories were triggered by the fact that she was told sex is painful, and would be able to bleed on the first occasion. These experiences only added to the psychological stress.
Bailey has no intention of giving up despite all the effort required to heal the condition. Josiah 22 is Bailey’s long-term partner.
Her situation also makes her happy to share the advice she has with other women (and their boyfriends) about how to manage it.
Vaginismus causes the vaginal muscles of women to contract when they are exposed to penetration. This can cause severe pain when inserting tampons or during sex.
Vaginal problems can be treated with a combination vaginal dilators and pelvic floor exercises.
Josiah, Bailey’s 22-year-old long-term partner is her support. She said: ‘Our relationship isn’t based on my ability to have penetrative sex’
She often shares information about her diagnosis online, hoping to normalize the condition and raise awareness to ensure that other women know that they don’t have to tolerate pain during sex.
There have been hundreds of messages to her from other women via Instagram who suffered vaginismus for many years.
Men often message her too – but for heart-warming reasons. Bailey stated that she receives many messages from husbands who are suffering from this condition and looking for support.
She is pleased with the support she has received online and hopes for more open discussion about women’s sexual pleasure and reproductive systems, so no one has to suffer in silence.
Bailey explained that she first attempted to use a tampon while in eighth grade. However, it was impossible for her.
‘I wrote that off as being because my body wasn’t fully developed, so I just stayed away from tampons for a long time.
‘It was probably at 21 when I started to revaluate why I couldn’t use a tampon. Something wasn’t adding up because all my girlfriends could use them with no issue at all, but I can’t.
“In December 2020 I visited my OBGYN who sent me to a pelvic floor specialist and diagnosed me with vaginismus.
‘Vaginismus is a condition that is related to mental stress and traumas, so it’s a tricky condition to work through.
‘It’s not only a taxing physical condition, but it’s very hard mentally.
‘It affects more than whether or not you can put a tampon in – it could very well affect your relationships, your ability to have children, or even just to have sex and pleasure with penetration.
Bailey stated that she developed the condition because of her Christian upbringing and the common myths surrounding sex for females. Pictured as a baby with her family
She was raised in strict religious homes and had an early association with sex as sin. This led to an unintentional fear of being purged. As a young child, she is shown here
‘Up until then, I was living in ignorance, and I’d just found out that I had an actual condition that was going to take therapy and working through trauma.
It was overwhelming. The pelvic floor therapist who helped me with vaginismus told me it was a marathon not a sprint.
‘I developed it from toxic purity culture – I grew up in a strict religious environment, where I associated sex with sin and pain.
I also recall being taught at school that sex would be painful. Or being told by my older sisters to “loosen up” and drink a glass before.
“I consider myself very blessed to have such a supportive partner. He’s here to work through it with me and communicate with me.
‘Our relationship isn’t based on my ability to have penetrative sex. Sex doesn’t just have to be penetrative.
‘That’s been a huge part of helping me to overcome my condition.
“At the start of my sessions, I couldn’t insert a tampon. After about two months, I started to see significant progress with increasing dilator sizes.
“Having someone to help with your diagnosis and explain it is very helpful.”
Frustrated by the lack of knowledge or awareness about vaginismus and women’s health, Bailey decided to share her journey on social media – and has been inspired by the results.
Bailey stated, “After being through some of my therapy sessions, learning about the condition, what it causes and how it is treated, and seeing how little was being discussed about it, I decided it was my mission to increase awareness.”
She often shares information about her diagnosis online, hoping to normalize the condition and raise awareness to ensure other women know they don’t have to tolerate pain during sex
Many messages have been sent to her by women who also have vaginismus and from men who are partners with those who suffer from it. Josiah is her boyfriend.
‘The biggest frustration for me is that a lot of people don’t know that vaginismus exists. So many women have reached out to me who are experiencing pain and I’m the only one who’s been able to give them information.
‘Even when they go to the doctor, they’re often misdiagnosed and not actually given proper help.
‘It’s really frustrating that women are feeling shame about their vaginas, thinking that something’s wrong with their body and that’s just not true.
‘I’m frustrated at how little it’s talked about and how often women are misdiagnosed and told to get over the pain.
‘Women shouldn’t have to suffer through sex. It is possible to cure this condition.
‘In some cases, it takes longer, for some, it’s shorter. It could take therapy to get over assault or shame, pelvic floor exercises or dilators – you can even have Botox injections to relax the vaginal muscles.
‘I just want women to know that they don’t have to live like this.’