In terms of functional physical activities, sex can be an incredibly meaningful one. This physical form of intimacy allows us to connect, communicate, and experience pleasure with each other. However, pain accompanying intercourse is not an uncommon occurrence for women, with 60% of sexually active women said to experience painful sex at some point throughout their lives.
While there are many potential contributing factors to painful sexual intercourse, one possible cause is a muscular condition called vaginismus.
What is Vaginismus?
Merck Manual defines vaginismus as “involuntary contraction of muscles around the opening of the vagina in women with no abnormalities in the genital organs. The tight muscle contraction makes sexual intercourse or any sexual activity that involves penetration painful or impossible.”
Muscles of the pelvic floor are circular and surround the opening of the vagina. These muscles can become tight and contracted and physiologically shorten, meaning they don’t stretch enough to allow penetration. This results in discomfort during intercourse and other vaginal penetrations, such as tampon insertion or pelvic exams.
Treatment for vaginismus often involves manual therapy to loosen tight muscles, education on the structures that are involved, prescribed self techniques to maintain progress at home, and retraining exercises.
How Physical Therapy Helps
Pain with sex can lead to feelings of anxiety, embarrassment, confusion, sadness, isolation, or anger. These feelings can be exacerbated when women don’t know which health provider to turn to or are frustrated by a lack of resolution by their current providers. Fortunately, physical therapists are trained to address musculoskeletal sources of pelvic pain.
After a thorough evaluation, your physical therapist can determine the specific soft tissues that are contributing to pain with intercourse. They can also help identify other potential related factors that may have an impact.
Physical therapists with specialized training in the pelvic floor are well equipped to assess and treat women with pain related to sex. They can differentiate and treat pain related to muscle tightness and spasms. When symptoms presented deal with multiple body systems, physical therapists can help navigate the healthcare system to find a team of clinicians that can treat, educate, and guide you to relieve the pain.
Luckily, vaginismus is a treatable condition. If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort during intercourse, contact your local SetPT to find a solution and get back to living life your way.
