Dyspareunia

It's a story I hear just about daily, and it never ceases to both anger me and break my heart all at the same time.

"Well, yes, sex has always been painful, but I figured that was normal, it is probably just my body."

"It hurts quite a bit after having a baby, but my doctor said it'll go away and to use more lube."

"My doctor suggested I drink wine before, and it seems to help a little, but it still hurts."

"I think it is all in my head, the doctor said there is nothing 'wrong' with me, so I must be making it up."

I'm here to tell you, it isn't all in your head. You do have pain. It is very common. And we can treat it - without lube or wine.

Dyspareunia, the symptom of pain with penetrative intercourse, is multifactorial in nature and commonly requires a team approach to treatment. Many more physicians are starting to recognize these complaints and although the referral rate is still low, they are recommending pelvic floor physical therapy.

In the U.S. alone, the reported number of women who experience dysparuenia is anywhere from 8-21%; and that number is only derived from those who report their pain! Many do not. In other countries, due to cultural differences, the prevalence is much higher. A study in Iran of 319 women between 15-49 years of age, 54.5% of women reported dyspareunia. 

A study published in the International Urogynecology Journal in 2019 found women who received pelvic floor physical therapy consistently for 3 months, 1x/week, reported statistically significant decreases in pelvic floor pain with penetrative intercourse. That's huge!

There are many ways in which we address pelvic pain. Pain can be originating from different pelvic floor muscles, muscles of the posterior hip and pelvis, or nerves. Often it takes providers from different disciplines to wholistically treat the pain, and we can help you find those providers.

Help me spread the word that you don't have to live in pain anymore, it isn't "normal", and I'm here to help you!

Sincerely,

Jamie