Being able to engage in intimate activities with your partner is part of a healthy, functioning relationship. However, if you’re experiencing pain or discomfort that is limiting your ability to comfortably engage in intercourse, there may be an underlying issue.
Integrated Physical Therapy in McKinney offers integrated care plans for our patients with this condition. Our pelvic floor therapists are experts in the field and would be more than happy to assess your body and help you manage your discomfort. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.
What is vaginismus?
Vaginismus occurs when the muscles of the vagina begin to tightly spasm or squeeze upon the insertion of a penis or tampon. This condition can be pretty painful and many women who have it are confused about what is going on with their bodies.
There are two kinds of vaginismus, primary and secondary. Primary involves pain when something enters the vagina (including penetrative sex). If you’ve never been able to insert anything in your vagina without pain, you most likely have primary vaginismus.
Secondary vaginismus develops over time, and is also referred to as “acquired” vaginismus. If you have secondary, you may suddenly begin experiencing pain during sex when previously, you’ve never had issues. For some women, it can also become impossible to engage in penetrative sex altogether.
Symptoms and causes
Anxiety, fear, infections, and vaginal dryness can all be causes of vaginismus.
Symptoms of this condition include pain and/or discomfort upon the insertion of a penis (referred to as dyspareunia) or tampon into the vagina. This is due to the tightening of vaginal muscles.
It’s also very common for women with vaginismus to lose interest in sexual activities because of anxiety or fear about experiencing discomfort.
How can pelvic floor therapy treat vaginismus?
During your first appointment, our pelvic floor physical therapists will conduct a thorough physical examination, assess areas causing you pain, as well as ask you questions about your medical history. This is all done to figure out what the best course of action for your condition is going to be.
Your pelvic therapist will want to know what movements increase or decrease your pain, and if there are activities you cannot do without experiencing discomfort.
For example, they may ask you if you feel pain upon engaging in intercourse, or inserting a tampon. Based on your exam results, they will develop a specialized treatment plan for your recovery so that you can relieve your symptoms and prevent recurring pelvic dysfunction. Common pelvic physical therapy treatments may include:
•Soft tissue mobilization and massage
•Spinal and sacroiliac joint manipulations
•Electrical stimulation modalities
•Therapeutic exercises to restore strength, mobility, and endurance of pelvic floor muscles
Every patient we see with chronic pelvic pain, or conditions such as vaginismus, has their own set of needs and goals. It’s important to remember that at Integrated Physical Therapy in McKinney, you’re safe with us!
Call today for an appointment
If you are struggling with pelvic pain, or you think you may have vaginismus, it’s time to take your discomfort to a specialist. Contact Integrated Physical Therapy in McKinney today to learn more about how we can bring long term pain relief to your life.
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