Dyspareunia can be described as painful sex/penetration. It may occur at the initiation phase, or after some time of pain free penetration. Penetration includes not only sex, but also use of a tampon, insertion of the finger, speculum, or other. The cause may be due to several factors, including:

• Muscle spasm of the pelvic floor either at the surface layer, or deep layer
• Position of a prolapse, if present (even if it is a small prolapse)
• Endometriosis if present
• Pelvic inflammatory disease or irrital bowel syndrome
• Skin sensitivity/ vulvodynia

How Angela Simpson Physiotherapy can help you:

• Identify the most likely cause of the problem
• Teach the client how to relax/ downtrain the pelvic floor muscles, if that is the cause of the problem
• Educate the client on positions that may be less painful for them
• Teach the client how to desensitize the area that causes the pain