Help for Painful Sex: Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Why Physical Therapy for Painful Intercourse and Exams?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized approach to treating painful sex (dyspareunia). Unlike traditional physical therapy, pelvic floor physical therapy focuses on increasing blood flow, releasing trapped nerves, and reducing pain sensitivity, leading to significant relief and improved sexual health. Physical therapy helps women regain control over their bodies and their sexual health, providing a path to a more enjoyable and pain-free life.
Common Symptoms
Painful sex can manifest in various ways, and recognizing the symptoms is crucial for seeking the right treatment. Common symptoms include:
Burning pain
Inability to achieve penetration due to muscle tightness
Pain or aching that persists for hours after intercourse
Understanding Why Painful Intercourse Happens and How We’re Here to Help
Painful intercourse can result from various factors, including trauma, infections, vaginismus, vulvodynia, pelvic conditions, and surgeries to name a few. Each of these factors can contribute to muscle tightness, nerve sensitivity, and tissue inflammation, which in turn cause pain during sex. Pelvic floor physical therapy at Chicago Pelvic Health in IL offers effective treatment strategies to address these causes, providing a comprehensive approach to improving pelvic health and alleviating pain. Our experienced board certified therapists are equipped with the knowledge and techniques to help you overcome these challenges.
What is Dyspareunia?
Dyspareunia is pain before, during, or after intercourse, often linked to issues with pelvic muscles, tissues, joints, nerves, or skin. It can be categorized as primary dyspareunia (from the first time having intercourse) and secondary dyspareunia (developing after years of pain-free sex). The condition is treatable through pelvic floor physical therapy, which offers non-surgical, medication-free options. Understanding dyspareunia as a medical condition opens up discussions about effective treatment methods and helps reduce the stigma associated with this common issue.
How Common is Dyspareunia?
Dyspareunia affects 2 in 10 women in the US, with many suffering in silence. This statistic highlights the need for greater awareness and more open conversations about sexual health. Women should seek help to improve their quality of life and achieve pain-free intercourse through professional treatment. By addressing dyspareunia openly, we can help more women find the relief they need.
Treatment for Dyspareunia
Pelvic floor physical therapy involves a comprehensive assessment of symptoms and medical history, followed by a tailored treatment plan. Key treatment elements include:
Manual Therapy Techniques for Pelvic Health
Pelvic Floor Relaxation
Exercises like reverse kegels can help relax and open pelvic muscles. Guided training with a pelvic floor therapist is crucial on how to properly learn if you are performing this exercise correctly. Additionally they can also help guide you on other techniques for relaxation such as breath work or ways to calm your nervous system.
Stretching for Tight Hips, Back, and Legs
Stretching exercises target tightness in the hips, back, and legs, helping to relax the pelvic floor and surrounding areas. Maintaining good mobility and flexibility in the surround pelvic areas are crucial in reducing pain with sex.
Post-Surgical Recovery Techniques
Specified manual therapy techniques such as scar massage or visceral mobilization can help heal post-surgical adhesions and scars, thus reducing tightness near the surgical site that can contribute to pain. These techniques are essential for women recovering from procedures like hysterectomies and C-sections, helping them regain full function and comfort.
Dilator training
The use of dilators helps stretch, desensitize, and retrain the pelvic muscles. These tools are valuable in overcoming muscle tightness and more importantly giving you confidence that you have ability to control and change any reflexive tightening patterns your pelvic muscles have.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback provides real-time feedback on muscle activity, helping patients learn to relax and coordinate their pelvic floor muscles effectively. This technique is beneficial for women uncomfortable with internal manual muscle manipulation, offering a non-invasive option. Remember biofeedback is not only with a machine. In fact we highly recommend those other forms of biofeedback.
Enhancing Recovery at Home
Home exercises, including stretches, reverse kegels, dilators, and strategies that relax the nervous system, are crucial for maintaining and advancing treatment progress. These practices help with recovery, carry over of therapy gains in between their sessions, and improve overall pelvic health, empowering women to take control of their healing journey.
Partner on Board
Inviting partners in the treatment process also improves outcomes and also results in a healthy emotional relationship, which can ultimately further help healing. At Chicago Pelvic Health, partners are always welcome and encouraged to attend PT treatments.
One Third of Women Are Living with Sexual Pain That's Ruining Their Lives
A significant number of women experience sexual pain, influencing their quality of life and relationships. Pelvic floor physical therapy offers hope and an effective treatment, helping women regain control and enjoy pain-free intimacy.
Top 5 Benefits of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy for Painful Sex
Relieves Pain: Reduces or eliminates pain during intercourse.
Improves Muscle Function: Enhances pelvic floor muscle function and coordination and Iimproves flexibility in the pelvic area, including the surround areas like the hips and low back.
Reduces Stress: Decreases stress and anxiety associated with painful sex, or relationship stress from abstaining because of pain.
Addresses Multiple Conditions: Treats various pelvic health issues, including incontinence, prolapse, or chronic back pain.
For More Information, Visit our Pelvic Services Page:
Pelvic Floor PT also treats Incontinence, Overactive Bladders, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Constipation, and Postpartum Care: Pelvic Physical Therapy to the Rescue!
Conclusion
By addressing the various causes of painful sex and a providing tailored comprehensive treatment approach, pelvic floor physical therapy empowers women and men to achieve a healthier, pain-free, and more satisfying sexual life. Seek help from a pelvic floor physical therapist to start your journey towards improved pelvic health and well-being.
Written by:
Dr. Jana Richardson, PT, DPT, WCS, PRPC, CIDN
Dual Board Certified Pelvic Floor Therapist and Owner of Chicago Pelvic Health
Dr. Jana Richardson is a highly accomplished pelvic floor therapist with dual board certifications and extensive experience in treating complex pelvic floor dysfunctions. As the owner of Chicago Pelvic Health, Dr. Richardson is dedicated to providing personalized and effective care for her patients. With a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, and specialized certifications in Women’s Health and Pelvic Rehabilitation, Dr. Richardson is a leading expert in her field. She is also certified in Integrative Dry Needling, further enhancing her ability to offer comprehensive treatment plans. Dr. Richardson’s commitment to patient-centered care and her passion for helping individuals achieve optimal pelvic health make her an invaluable asset to the community.