Dealing with painful sex can be a distressing experience for many women.
The good news is that you don't have to suffer in silence. Painful sex, known as dyspareunia, is treatable, and one effective approach is pelvic floor physical therapy.
This type of therapy targets the pelvic muscles that might be contributing to or causing the pain.
Understanding Painful Sex
Painful sex is a complex issue with physical, emotional, and behavioral aspects. Painful sex can be related to medical conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, fibroids, or uterine prolapse. Seeking pelvic floor physical therapy is crucial.
The Role of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
At MOVE, Pelvic floor physical therapy focuses not only on the group of muscles that make up the pelvic floor, but also on the person as a whole. We help to find ways to modify sex to be able to continue enjoying it throughout treatment!
The pelvic floor muscles support pelvic organs, control bladder and bowel functions, contribute to sexual sensations, and play a role in pregnancy. Similar to other muscles, the pelvic floor muscles can be too tight, stiff, or weak, leading to issues like painful sex. For instance, vaginismus is a condition where vaginal muscles involuntarily contract during penetration, resulting in pain..
Pelvic Floor Therapy for Painful Sex
Most women with painful sex have both overactive AND weak pelvic floor muscles.
Pelvic floor physical therapy can help strengthen AND relax these muscles, effectively reducing pelvic floor tension and pain.
Therapists may use various techniques, including dilators or manual methods, to help women manage insertion discomfort and identify painful areas. Most importantly we are teaching women how to care for and help themselves.
An internal examination is never mandatory.
Your comfort and consent are of the highest importance. Your pelvic floor therapist will consistently seek your consent and respect your right to withdraw consent at any point.
Pelvic floor physical therapy can also address pelvic pain unrelated to sex.
Finding Relief Through Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Discovering that you can overcome painful sex is a relief for many women. Pelvic floor physical therapy offers a path to relief by addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of the condition. You deserve to regain comfort and enjoy a fulfilling sex life.
You can take the first step by scheduling a totally free 15 minute phone consultation with our team.
What are you waiting for? Book your free phone consultation here.