Regain pleasure in your life.
Sex references are in the mainstream culture on a daily basis and this can be hard for those experiencing pain with intercourse (i.e. sex). For some, sex has never been pleasurable, or has been the cause of physical, mental, and emotional pain. Articles in magazines talk about how to orgasm better and different ways of pleasuring oneself or partners but rarely focus on the experience of many others out there.
If you have always experienced pain with sex or it has come about later in life, please read on.
Sexual function is supported by the pelvic floor muscles which run from the pubic bone to the tailbone and are involved in bladder and bowel control along with the ability to orgasm.
In our patients, the main causes of painful sex we see are the following:
a) “Tight” pelvic floor muscles
Tight, overactive, or hypertonic pelvic floor muscles may be the cause of discomfort or pain with intercourse. Sometimes the vaginal entrance alone can be tight or it can also be tighter deeper in. Although it may be difficult to determine the direct cause of tight muscles, (especially if someone has had this since the first time they were sexually active), we have had clients mention sexual trauma, pelvic floor trauma from birth, and stress as contributing factors.
b) Pelvic organ prolapse
With organs shifting and putting pressure on the vaginal walls, penetration deeper inside can be painful and often patients will describe this as a block or that during sex it is “hitting something” and can be dependent on the position as well. This can be due to pelvic organ prolapse, descending of the vaginal walls + organs.
c) Vaginal dryness
This can be related to hormonal issues, outside of pregnancy, postpartum or around menopause. Use of lubrication, topical estrogen prescribed by your physician, other non-estrogen creams or hormonal treatment can be beneficial in this case.
d) Scar tissue
For vaginal deliveries, if an episiotomy was performed or there was tearing, depending on how the region healed, there may be scar tissue that can lead to sensitivity in the vaginal region or tightness.
The above causes of painful sex can occur in isolation or there may be multiple reasons at once. Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy can help reduce and eliminate pain with intercourse and move towards pleasure. Find more by reading this article - Treatment for “tight” pelvic floor muscles. Know that even though you might be experiencing these symptoms right now, there is help out there from professionals who care and will take the time to listen to your concerns.
Questions? Comment below, e-mail us at hello@kaaiaa.co, or book a free phone consult.
