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What is Painful Intercourse?
The medical term for painful intercourse is Dyspareunia (dis-puh-ROO-nee-uh). It is lasting or recurrent genital pain that occurs just before, during or after sex
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What Causes an Dyspareunia?
Dyspareunia can be caused by various factors. These include physical conditions like infections, vaginal dryness, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, scar tissue, tight pelvic floor muscles, or nerve pain. Psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, or past trauma can also contribute, along with issues like hormonal changes, certain medications, or inadequate lubrication during sex.
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How do you experience Dyspareunia?
Dyspareunia usually shows up as pain during or after sex. You might feel it at the opening of your vagina, deep inside your pelvis, or all over your pelvic area. The pain can be sharp, burning, aching, or throbbing. Sometimes, it comes with other symptoms like vaginal dryness, itching, or muscle spasms.
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How can we help?
Physiotherapy can help with dyspareunia, or painful intercourse, by teaching you pelvic floor exercises to strengthen and relax your muscles, using gentle manual techniques to ease muscle tension and improve flexibility, and providing guidance on body positioning and relaxation methods to make sex more comfortable. Sex should be enjoyable and never be painful.
