Pain with sex is a common reason to attend a women's health physiotherapy session.

 

In this session, we will discuss your past sexual history, gynae history (chatting about

your menstrual cycle, contraception use, pad / tampon use, any surgeries etc),

musculoskeletal history, and social history, to help discover the cause of your pain.

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In some women, dyspareunia (pain with sex) is primary (i.e. they have always had painful sex), while in others, it is secondary (initially they could have pain free sex but at a certain point in time it became painful).

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There are numerous causes for sexual pain; ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
Overactive pelvic floor (due to endometriosis, previous trauma like falling onto a tailbone, chronic constipation etc) ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀
Prolapse (sensation of something being hit internally, like a thudding pain) ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
Endometriosis/adenomyosis (pain on deeper penetration, potentially into the bowel)⠀ ⠀ ⠀
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
Thrush (burning inside the vagina)⠀ ⠀ ⠀
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
Bladder pain / UTI ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
Low vaginal oestrogen (related to menopause, breastfeeding or chemotherapy treatment- dry sensation vaginally) ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
Scar pain post episiotomy / tearing during vaginal birth ⠀

⠀ ⠀ ⠀
Anxiety (possibly due to previous history of pain/trauma)

It is always best to consult with your GP / gynaecologist / women’s health Physio if you are experiencing any pain with sex- it isn’t something you have to live with and there is always something that can be done to help!