PGIMER Sangrur NO - 2023
Obstetrics and Midwifery Nursing
Easy

During pelvic examination vaginismus is usually seen. It is?

Appeared in: PGIMER Sangrur NO - 2023

Explanation

  • Vaginismus is defined as the involuntary spasm or tightening of the muscles at the outer third of the vagina.
  • This muscle constriction interferes with any form of vaginal penetration, including sexual intercourse, tampon use, or a gynecological exam with a speculum.
  • The reaction is a reflexive response, often triggered by a conscious or unconscious fear of pain, and is not under the person's voluntary control.
  • The key feature is the physical muscle spasm, which distinguishes it from other sexual dysfunctions related to arousal or desire.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option B: This describes a condition affecting males, characterized by the inability to achieve or maintain an erection.
  • Option C: This describes a lack of psychological or physical response to sexual stimulation, such as lubrication. While anxiety from vaginismus can affect arousal, the core definition of vaginismus is the muscle spasm itself.
  • Option D: This is a fungal infection. While it can cause pain and discomfort (dyspareunia), which might trigger a vaginismus response, the infection itself is not the definition of vaginismus.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Definition of Vaginismus as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • Recognizing vaginismus is crucial for providing trauma-informed care during gynecological exams. Forcing an examination can cause significant physical and psychological trauma.
  • Nurses should prioritize patient comfort, control, and relaxation. Using a smaller speculum, allowing the patient to guide insertion, and ensuring a 'stop' signal can facilitate a successful and less traumatic exam.
  • What if? If a patient with known vaginismus also presents with symptoms of a severe yeast infection (Option D), the priority is still to manage the vaginismus-related anxiety first. A gentle external swab might be possible for diagnosis even if a full internal exam is not, and treatment can be initiated based on that.
How to Approach the Question
  • This is a definition-based recall question.
  • First, identify the key term in the question stem: 'vaginismus'.
  • Next, read through each option to find the one that accurately defines this specific medical term.
  • Option A directly describes an involuntary muscle spasm related to vaginal penetration, which is the textbook definition of vaginismus.
  • Eliminate the other options by identifying the conditions they describe: Option B is erectile dysfunction (male-specific), Option C is a disorder of arousal, and Option D is a fungal infection.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Definition of Vaginismus
  • Stem keywords: pelvic examination, vaginismus
  • Lead-in keywords: It is?

Question ID

QgUNRGMX-Ai40LOx426aib

Reference Book

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) pp. 1665-1667, 1667-1669

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 15645-15647

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