Consideration of contention windows with spatial listen before talk (LBT) operations is discussed. In multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) transmission operations over a shared transmission medium, use of spatial LBT transmissions may be implemented with fairness options and parameters influenced by a condition of the MIMO transmitter, such conditions as the level of MIMO capability or the enablement of polite spatial LBT nulling transmissions. When a MIMO transmitter identifies data for transmission, it may determine a configuration of the medium access contention operation, synchronous or asynchronous content, based on the condition of the MIMO transmitter. The MIMO transmitter may then transmit the data either using spatial LBT transmission or not according to the configuration of the medium access contention operation.