Painful Intercourse


Sex should be a pleasant experience! Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Many women routinely experience pain and discomfort with sexual intercourse - clinically referred to as Dyspareunia

Dyspareunia is the persistent or recurrent pain and can occur before, during, or after intercourse. The causes of this pain range from pathological conditions to structural issues to traumatic incidences. And it may have physical or psychological origins. Dyspareunia may be primary - pain with the first episode of intercourse or secondary - pain after a period of pain free intercourse. Women often develop fear and anxiety associated with the anticipation of a painful experience. This exacerbates the discomfort and further feeds into the pain cycle. Addressing dyspareunia early on will break this cycle and prevent negative associations with sex and sexuality.

Painful intercourse is commonly not voiced and remains an unaddressed issue. Many women are embarrassed to bring this up to their healthcare providers, while others think that it is not a treatable condition and choose to quietly endure it. Fortunately, there are a variety of effective treatments available - the key is finding one that is right for you. At Pelvica, we understand the intimate nature of such topics. We provide a safe and comfortable environment and encourage discussions about all women's health issues. We apply long established - yet underutilized - tools, manual techniques, and specialized forms of exercises and stretches as part of the treatment for painful sex.