Sexual Pain Disorders
Sexual Pain Disorders
It is estimated that between 8% and 21% of women in America experience painful sex, also known as Dyspareunia. However, many women refrain from reporting these symptoms to their healthcare providers due to embarrassment or lack of proper diagnosis from the medical professional. Painful sex can have various potential causes and result from a myriad of conditions. Sexual intercourse is often compromised in up to 90% of women who suffer from chronic pelvic pain.
Dyspareunia was also reported by 44.7% of women at 3 months postpartum, 43.4% at 6 months postpartum, 28.1% at 12 months postpartum, and 23.4% at 18 months postpartum. Furthermore, many post menopausal women can also experience dyspareunia due to decreasing levels of estrogen which leads to vaginal atrophy. Regardless the age or cause, painful sex can cause distress and lead to a reduced quality of life.
Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction including difficulty relaxing the pelvic floor muscles and poor muscle coordination can often be a contributing factor when it comes to painful sex. Physical therapy treatment can be a valuable piece of the puzzle when it comes to solving the problem of painful intercourse. A pelvic floor physical therapist is specifically trained in evaluating and assessing when the pelvic floor muscles are not functioning optimally. Treatment may include teaching relaxation and greater awareness/control of the pelvic floor muscles with the use of SEMG biofeedback, manual therapy and myofascial mobilization techniques, encouragement of movement/stretching, progressive stretching/dilation, and education.
References:
- 21 January 2015 BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
