Dyspareunia Treatment

Have you put up with your pain long enough?

Our experienced physiotherapists can help you manage your pain related to dyspareunia get give you back the sex-life you deserve! We have been successful treating this problem both in-clinic and online..

WHAT IS IT?

Dyspareunia refers to pain in the genital area that occurs before, during or after sexual intercourse. The pain may be localized at the entrance of the vagina or be experienced deeper in the pelvis. It may be persistent or recurrent and is often described as burning, throbbing or aching. Although far more common in women, it is a condition that is present in both sexes.

WHAT CAUSES IT?

Pain at the entry of the vagina can have many causes :

Insufficient lubrication
Trauma
irritation in the genital area (e.g. accident, surgery, episiotomy)
infections, skin disorders (e.g. eczema, lichens sclerosis)
Vestibulodynia/Vulvodynia/Vaginismus
congenital abnormalities such as imperforate hymen or vaginal agenesis

Insufficient lubrication

Trauma

irritation in the genital area (e.g. accident, surgery, episiotomy)

infections, skin disorders (e.g. eczema, lichens sclerosis)

Vestibulodynia/Vulvodynia/Vaginismus

congenital abnormalities such as imperforate hymen or vaginal agenesis

Deep pain is usually associated with deep penetration. It may be a consequence of :

certain illnesses and conditions (e.g. interstitial cystitis, uterine prolapse, hemorrhoids, ovarian cyst)

medical treatments and surgeries (e.g. scarring from hysterectomy, radiation and chemotherapy)

Tensions in the Pelvic floor muscles

. Certain emotional factors such as stress, fear of intimacy, fear of pain, anxiety or depression can have an impact on dyspareunia symptoms and pain perception. In fact, all of your thoughts, emotions and behaviors play an important role in your perception of pain.

Finally, the latest research on genito-pelvic pain indicates that the partner has an impact on the perception of the pain felt by the woman, both positively and negatively, and that pain has consequences on the-the partner, as well as on the couple relationship.

HOW CAN PHYSIO HELP?

Several treatment options are available. The most appropriate approach for you will depend on the underlying cause of the pain. Physical therapy is a treatment approach that focuses on education regarding your specific situation, relaxation and strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles to decrease the pain associated with sexual intercourse, and manual techniques to desensitize the area.

Combining pelvic floor treatments with counseling consultations helps you have all the tools you need to better understand your pain and improve your situation.

WHAT CAN THE SEXO?

Your sex therapist can support you in your quest for intimate, sexual and/or relational well-being. Although this is a process for couples, it is possible to consult individually, while making sure to reach your partner through exercises to be done between sessions. Your sex therapist can help you identify the causes of your pain and how it affects your relationship as a couple. It's important to understand that no technique will instantly remove the pain you feel. Instead, your sex therapist will work with you to develop pain management tools, which can be broken down into 3 areas: learning to control pain, accepting that pain is part of your life, and addressing partners' emotional reactions to pain. She uses a variety of approaches that recognize that you are the expert in your own reality, and that you have all the resources within you to achieve wellness. The sex therapist will guide you through this journey, using her knowledge, know-how and skills, while proposing practical exercises to be carried out during and between sessions. Combining counselling with pelvic floor treatments gives you all the tools you need to better understand your pain and improve your situation.