Painful Sex? How Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help You Heal
Painful Sex Is Common & Treatable
Many women suffer in silence with dyspareunia — the clinical term for painful sex.
One in four women experience painful sex at some point in their lives.
Dyspareunia refers to any pain that occurs before, during, or after penetration. This includes intercourse, tampon insertion, pelvic exams, or any attempt at vaginal penetration. Pain can be occasional or persistent, and may feel mild, sharp, burning, or deeply aching.
There are two main types of dyspareunia, and both can be helped by pelvic floor physical therapy:
• Superficial Pain:
Burning, stinging, or sharp pain at the vaginal opening during initial penetration.
• Deep Pain:
A feeling of aching, pressure, or cramping with deeper thrusting.
Many people don’t realize these symptoms are not normal — and that pelvic floor dysfunction is one of the most common, and most treatable, causes. Fortunately, pelvic floor physical therapy offers evidence-based solutions that address these underlying causes.
How Pelvic Floor Therapy Helps
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized form of care that focuses on relaxing, strengthening, and retraining the muscles of the pelvic floor. These muscles support your bladder and bowels, sexual function, and core stability.
When they become too tight, too weak, or uncoordinated, they can create tension and pain that shows up during intimacy.
Pelvic floor therapy addresses the root cause of painful sex by restoring mobility, flexibility, and coordination in the pelvic muscles and finding why the pelvic floor is dysfunctional. Treatment may include hands-on release, breathwork, nervous system regulation, scar tissue work, muscle retraining of the core and hips (possibly even the foot or jaw!), and education on how to comfortably return to intimacy.
Common Causes of Painful Sex
There are many reasons someone may experience dyspareunia, including:
Pelvic floor muscle tightness or spasms
Vaginal dryness (postpartum, breastfeeding, or menopause)
Scar tissue from delivery, surgery, or injury
Endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease
Stress, anxiety, or trauma that leads to pelvic muscle guarding
Over compensation of the pelvic floor working too hard to due to weakness in the other areas of the hips or core
Some surprising culprits can also be TMJ (jaw) related issues, foot related issues, and old injuries orthopedic injuries.
Pelvic floor therapy helps identify what’s driving your pain — whether it’s muscle tension, hormonal changes, scar tissue, or deeper pelvic conditions — and creates a customized plan to help you move toward pain-free intimacy. Even when the cause isn't obvious, ongoing discomfort is a signal from your body that deserves attention.
When To Reach Out For Help
If you find yourself afraid or avoiding sexual intimacy, discomfort that isn't improving, or having lasting pain with tampons/insertion/deep penetration, it may be time to reach out for help. At Chicago Mama Physical Therapy, we pride ourselves on creating a safe, warm, and supportive environment where women can share what is going on in their lives and experience lasting pain relief.
What To Expect At Chicago Mama Physical Therapy
At Chicago Mama Physical Therapy, our focus is getting to the root cause of the issue and restoring pain-free function and intimacy. While painful sex is common, it is not normal. Pelvic floor therapy is highly effective at helping women regain their enjoyment of sex. What you can expect at Chicago Mama Physical Therapy:
Dedicated attention for one-on-one sessions that last one hour and you will never be handed off to an aide
Treatment in the privacy and comfort of a tranquil private treatment room rather than a busy physical therapy gym
You will always be seen by the same physical therapist instead of seeing different practitioners each visit
Your therapist is specialized in the field of pelvic health and physical therapy
We will treat you as a whole person looking not only at your pelvis but the rest of you with a focus on helping you understand and prioritize your goals
We will provide a road map to reach your goals successfully; we’ll get there together!
You do not have to live with pain — healing is possible.
Next Steps for Healing
If you're ready to take the next step in managing painful sex, we're here for you. Schedule your free discovery call today to learn how pelvic floor therapy can support you on your healing journey.
If you’re in Barrington, IL or the surrounding Northwest suburbs, visit chicagomamapt.com/contact or call 312.554.5146.