Pelvic Pain and Sexual Dysfunction

Pelvic pain and painful intercourse is common but doesn’t have to define you. Pelvic physiotherapy can help to reduce symptoms, improve awareness and give you greater control and confidence when it comes to your sexual and pelvic health.

Learn. Move. Empower.

Learn. Move. Empower.

  • Non-specific pain or discomfort around the vulva (external genitals) or vaginal vestibule (opening of the vagina) in the absence of any physical findings. Often described as burning, stabbing, stinging or itching.

  • The inability to have penetrative intercourse due to spasms of the pelvic floor musculature. You may not be able to insert a tampon or undergo a physical exam (with a speculum) with your doctor. It is often described as feeling like hitting a wall.

  • Painful sex in the absence of any disease. This may be at the vaginal entrance, deeper internally or anywhere int he pelvis or lower abdomen.

  • A condition whereby endometrial tissue (tissue of the uterine lining) is found outside of the uterus. Symptoms may include pain in the pelvis and abdomen, heavy periods, urinary and bowel dysfunction (frequency/urgency) and painful sex. Pelvic physiotherapy can help to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.

  • Pain around the coccyx (tailbone) which may worsen after prolonged periods of sitting. This may have started after a trauma (direct fall onto the buttocks) or may occur without a specific cause.

  • Compression or entrapment of the pudendal nerve which causes pain and dysfunction in the pelvis, groin and perineum. The pudendal nerve is responsible for sensation, muscular control around the pelvis as well as function of the organs of the pelvis.

    A spasm of the pelvic floor muscules can cause compression of the pudendal nerve and cause any of the above symptoms.

  • Any surgical intervention around the pelvic region may cause pain or discomfort. Post-operative patients we have worked with include but is not limited to:

    • Prolapse repair

    • Cesarian Section

    • Hysterectomy

    • Endometrial ablation

  • Low back pain that is persistent, more sinister causes have been ruled out but has failed traditional physiotherapy may stem from the pelvic floor. If you find physiotherapy/chiropractic has failed to resolve your low back pain, a pelvic floor muscle assessment may be appropriate