Pelvic and Sexual Pain

Do you have pain with sex or difficulty inserting a tampon?
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Do you have pelvic or low abdominal pain, bladder or bowel irritation or pressure?
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Do you have pain with sitting due to tailbone or coccyx pain?

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Pelvic pain is often poorly understood and is very distressing both physically and emotionally. It can go undiagnosed for many years. Interestingly, 1 in 5 women experience pelvic or sexual pain so you are not alone!! We can help!!

Tight pelvic floor muscles can result in pain with intercourse or the insertion of a tampon. Sometimes these muscles spasm involuntarily in anticipation of pain or penetration. Tense, tight or overactive muscles can lead to ongoing pelvic, vulval, coccyx, bladder or bowel pain.

You may have been diagnosed with vaginismus, vulvodynia, endometriosis, pudendal neuralgia, painful bladder syndrome or coccydynia. In all of these conditions the overactive pelvic floor muscles are often painful.

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Common symptoms:

• Painful intercourse or unable to have penetrative intercourse
• Pain with using a tampon or having a PAP smear
• Involuntary pelvic floor muscle spasm
• Vulval pain with sitting or tight clothing
• Painful periods
• Pain with a full bladder or bowel or soon after emptying
• General chronic pelvic pain that may be related to endometriosis
• Tailbone or coccyx pain

Possible causes:

• Tight pelvic floor muscles
• Overtraining of core / abdominal muscles
• Irritation, injury or compression of a nerve (including following pelvic surgery)
• Recurrent infections of vagina, vulva or bladder
• Hormonal changes due to breastfeeding or menopause
• Genetic factors
• Psychological factors such as mood, high stress, fear, relationship issues or past abuse

What can be done?

• We are specifically trained in this complex area of pain and will work with you to design an individual program to meet your specific needs
• A personalised pelvic floor muscles exercise program will help you relax and release these overactive pelvic floor muscles
• Muscle tightness can be released to reduce pain including with the use of Dry Needling
• Advice on reducing aggravating factors to ensure long term resolution of pain
• Education on how to use the muscles around this area correctly to help reduce pain