Pain with Sex

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Dyspareunia also known as pain with sex, or pain with penetration, can be treated with pelvic floor therapy. Symptoms related to dyspareunia include, but are not limited to: stress; anxiety; pain with inserting a tampon; back pain; hip pain; pelvic muscle tenderness; pelvic muscle tightness; short pelvic muscles; and difficulty relaxing pelvic floor muscles (PFM).

Pain limiting sexual function is common among individuals with vaginas, meaning you are not alone if you have been diagnosed with this condition or have symptoms related to this diagnosis. However, you should know that unwanted pain with sex (non-penetrative or penetrative) is never normal, even if it is common. The great news is that there are pelvic floor therapists that can help you isolate your specific issue or issues and provide you with interventions that will help decrease or eliminate your symptoms. Many times, these symptoms can be addressed with pelvic floor interventions including, but not limited to: the use of gentle pelvic floor therapy tools (vaginal trainers, pelvic wand etc.); gentle external and internal manual therapy; abdominal/pelvic pressure management training; breath training or breath therapy; therapeutic exercise; and PFM relaxation training, which can all be prescribed by your pelvic floor therapist.