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Karen Buono (35), a teacher from Wesley Chapel, Florida in the US, spent most of her life suffering from a painful condition called vaginismus, which causes the vaginal wall muscles to involuntarily constrict.
This meant she wasn’t able to insert a tampon, have a pap smear or engage in sex. She was left confused after she tried to have sex with several boyfriends who all told her the same thing – that attempting intercourse with her was “like hitting a brick wall”.
After several failed attempts Karen gave up and instead would lie to her partners, telling them she wanted to wait until marriage before having sex.
It wasn’t until she was 31 that Karen was officially diagnosed with vaginismus, after years of being told it was “all in her head”.
In a recent interview Karen opened about what it felt like it when she was finally diagnosed.
“I knew something was wrong with me after I tried to have sex with my boyfriend for the first time when I was 16. It was so awkward.”
Vaginismus is a gynaecological condition that causes the pelvic floor muscles to involuntary spasm and constrict, making it difficult – or in Karen’s case, impossible – to penetrate the vagina.
After finding a doctor who specialises in treating vaginismus Karen was completely cured of the condition after just four months of intense physical therapy.
She was finally able to lose her virginity at 32 – to her husband Joe Johnson (38), whom she describes as “very patient”.
“When I was 25 I’d had enough. I paid $4 000 [about R54 300] for my doctor to put me under anaesthesia to see what was wrong with me, but they said everything was fine. I was surprised.”
Karen said she’d seen many doctors over the years and they’d all told her it was “all in her head”. Finally a doctor suggested she “could possibly have vaginismus – but he said there was no real cure and nothing else they could do”.
At that point, Karen said, she gave up trying.
But when she met Joe online in April 2014 she fell in love and knew he was “the one” – so she decided to seek medical help one last time for her elusive condition.
Karen made an appointment with a local pelvic floor specialist, Dr Lynn Deang, who she says was able to cure her condition in just four months.
“It was one of the best days of my life. I was so happy.”
Joe proposed to Karen a year ago and they tied the knot in April this year – with Karen’s “miracle doctor” attending the ceremony.
“My whole life has completely changed,” Karen said. “I never thought I’d be able to experience the joy of sex.
“We’re trying to have a baby, which is something I never thought I’d be able to do. I always wanted to be a mother, so this is like a dream for me.
“You can never give up; it’s not all in your head. The condition is real, and it can be cured. I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my entire life.”
Source: Magazine Features
Pictures: CATERS/WWW.MAGAZINEFEATURES.CO.ZA
