Vaginismus is best described as which symptom?

• A. Dyspareunia with pain upon superficial entry of the vagina
• B. Vulvar itching
• C. Pelvic inflammatory disease
• D. Urinary incontinence

Answer: (A)

Vaginismus is characterized by involuntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles around the vagina when penetration is attempted, leading to pain and making entry difficult or impossible. This creates dyspareunia that begins at superficial vaginal entry, because the spasm is triggered right at the vaginal opening as contact is attempted. The pain is not due to tissue inflammation or infection, but to a reflexive muscular response.

The other symptoms describe different problems: vulvar itching points to conditions like dermatitis or infection; pelvic inflammatory disease involves infection with systemic pelvic symptoms; urinary incontinence is about leakage rather than pain with penetration.