It's a story to be told

Every woman has her own story. Every woman who experiences vaginistic reactions does too. Talking about sexuality is often not such a problem when everything goes smoothly and works well. Strangely enough, every woman deals with less pleasant experiences in the sexual domain at some point in her life. Physical, psychological, chronic, situational, or for a longer period of time. That is often when the talking stops, which only makes the situation more difficult at that moment. Letting symptoms simmer, not facing fears, hiding behind anonymous forums, or bottling up grief only makes the insecurity, the shame, and the loneliness greater. Sharing their story with others creates space. Showing yourself, and thereby showing that you are powerful and that if you (temporarily) cannot do something, that says nothing about who you are as a person. That freedom breaks the spiral of loneliness, shame, insecurity, and guilt. There is no taboo if we know both sides of the coin.

—

In the Netherlands, approximately 150,000 women have been diagnosed with vaginismus. This means that it is not possible for these women to have sexual intercourse, despite their desire to do so. This number is only the tip of the iceberg, because the shame is often so great for many that taking the step toward help is still too far. A team of people is continuously working on this unique online platform to literally give the taboo a face.

The initiative of this video platform arose from the philosophy that every woman has the right to a pleasant and pain-free sex life, and that the threshold to achieve this must be lowered. During the research preceding this website, it was noted that shame and ignorance are the main barriers to coming forward with the problem. The shame, the guilt, the insecurity, and the continuous struggle with the prevailing sexual morality make it impossible for some to talk about this taboo. But it was also striking that behind the sadness and frustration lie powerful women, who fight for their own sexual freedom and thereby also fight to move beyond the shame. This platform attempts to break a spiral of anonymity and fear. Because these women tell their story on screen, thereby underlining the philosophy of Leven Met (Living With), they are living proof that shame is not necessary. It gives other women the strength to also come forward, seek help, and enter into a dialogue with their loved ones.