What Is Pain During Intercourse (Dyspareunia)?
Pain can result from a variety of emotional and physical factors, including stress deep in the pelvic region. It is hard to pinpoint the cause of pain during or after intercourse as there are many conditions that could lead to this feeling.
What Causes Pain During Intercourse?
Pelvic pain, in particular, can result from:
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Scarring of ligaments from childbirth or pelvic surgery
- Tightening of the pelvic floor muscles
Pain during intercourse may also point to other pelvic conditions, including:
- Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS): A condition that involves regular pain in the pelvic region
- Pudendal neuralgia (PN) or pudendal nerve entrapment (PNE): Both involve stress on the pudendal nerve which runs between the anus and the genitals
- Piriformis Syndrome: The compression of the piriformis muscle and sciatic nerve in the buttock
Pain During Intercourse Can Be Due To Conditions/Symptoms:
Vulvodynia: chronic vulvar pain with no discernable cause that may be the result of sex-related nerve injury or irritation
Vaginismus: painful vaginal contractions that may be a result of performance anxiety, often treated with Kegel exercises
Levator Ani Syndrome: a type of chronic proctalgia (or recurrent rectal pain) in which a muscle in the pelvis is often sensitive and sore\
Dyspareunia Risk Factors:
- Gynecologic Disorders
- Endometriosis
- Chronic Prostatitis
- History of STD
- Pelvic Floor Spasm/Hypertonia
- Hermia
This visual is an easy depiction of contracting muscles of the pelvic floor. It’s showing how contractions can make the physical openings smaller causing painful intercourse, constipation and many other functions that interact with the pelvic floor muscles.
Our treatment protocols aim to bring relief to the contracted or tightness occurring in the pelvic floor which can drastically improve many problem areas in the body.
Many people may be hesitant to discuss dyspareunia-related symptoms with medical professionals. However, due to the wide range of conditions that cause dyspareunia, it’s important to talk about them with your doctor.
We help develop a personalized treatment plan so you can enjoy sex the way you deserve. Our holistic approach to healing, combined with physical therapy and traditional treatments, ensures a plan that addresses your pelvic symptoms.
