SEXUAL PAIN

Sex should be pleasurable. If you experience pain or discomfort a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist can help you.

Pain during sex can be due to a number of reasons one of them being; Pelvic floor associated sexual dysfunction and can comprise of vaginismus, dyspareunia or chronic pelvic pain.

If you suffer from any of the above conditions it is likely you have an overactive pelvic floor (tight pelvic floor muscles, with an inability to fully relax). A massive 57% of women with overactive pelvic floor muscles suffer from pain during sex. This is due to stretching of shortened pelvic floor muscles, stimulation of painful areas in the muscle or organ dysfunction (Berghmans, 2018).

Did you know pelvic pain following sexual activity can last up to 3 DAYS!!!!

VAGINISMUS

Vaginismus is muscle spasm (of the pelvic floor muscles) interfering with sexual intercourse.

Are you unable to have sex or use a tampon? Does it feel like it won’t go in or there’s a wall at the vaginal entrance? Do you suffer from pain during attempts of penetration?

These are common signs and symptoms of Vaginismus OR Genito Pelvic Pain Disorder. 1-6% of Females have Vaginismus, but it could be as high as 5-17%.

CAUSES OF SEXUAL PAIN

INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO;

Dyspareunia – pain during or after sex.

Vaginismus – involuntary muscle spasm causing pain or preventing penetration.

Vulvodynia – pain on the vestibule (outside the vagina) or on vaginal entry.

Endometriosis - when the tissue that lines the uterus is found outside the uterus (endometrium). See Pelvic Pain for more information on endometriosis.

If you experience pain during sex contact us for a comprehensive assessment to make sex pleasurable again.