Painful Sex & Pelvic Floor PT
Nothing is ever TMI in pelvic floor physical therapy - we regularly discuss sexual function in our visits! Many people with vaginas experience pain during intercourse, but just because it’s common does not make it normal. At Foundations Pelvic Health we can help you achieve your goal of having a pleasurable, pain-free sex life. It’s what everyone deserves!
So… how does pelvic floor PT help?
Our pelvic floor is a network of muscles and everything’s connected. So chances are if you’re coming to the clinic for urinary or bowel issues, your difficulties with intercourse or sexual activity could be related - and vice versa.
Our clinic is a safe space with a calming environment and therapists who respect the sensitivity of this topic. During your initial visit we’ll discuss your urinary, bowel, and sexual function. We can chat about what type of sex you’re participating in or restricted in, where and when during sexual activity you may be experiencing pain, arousal levels, and lubrication. We can also assess the pelvic floor through an internal vaginal assessment (only if you’re comfortable) to look for any pelvic floor muscle tightness, difficulty with coordinating relaxation of the pelvic floor, and any symptoms such as tenderness, pressure, stinging, or burning.
We then discuss what types of treatment you may benefit from. We may recommend pelvic floor muscle release to decrease muscle tightness and tenderness/pain, pelvic floor relaxation training, hip mobility exercises, and/or mindfulness practices. Your PT may also introduce or recommend use of a pelvic wand or vaginal dilator training at home to improve the effects of physical therapy as well as provide education on recommended lubricants, sex positions, or products to assist in returning to sexual activity/intercourse pain-free.
You may benefit from pelvic floor PT if you are experiencing the following:
Pain with becoming sexually active for the first time
New onset of pain with penetration at anytime or with hormonal changes associated with postpartum or menopause
Difficulty returning to sexual activity postpartum, potentially due to scar tissue from tearing or episiotomy
Muscle guarding or anxiety in anticipation of penetration
Decreased arousal or difficulty reaching orgasm