What is Sexual health and what is the role of pelvic health physiotherapy in addressing sexual dysfunction?
"Sexual health is fundamental to the overall health and well-being of individuals, couples and families, and to the social and economic development of communities and countries."
Sexual health is an important part of general health and well-being, and it should be addressed and treated as any other physiological symptom.
I do love to talk about sexual health, as I believe it is not a topic that individuals and clinicians discuss very openly. Healthy sexual activity should be promoted and encouraged. Some of the most common conditions that I see and treat are:
- Vaginismus
- Provoked and Unprovoked Vestibulodynea
- Painful sex or Dyspareunia
- Painful ejaculation or erection
- Erectile Dysfunction
Pelvic health physiotherapy can help sexual dysfunction by determining contributing factors, treating vaginal sensitivity and pain, treating pelvic floor muscle dysfunction and enhancing positive approach towards sex and penetration.
PAINFUL SEX
It is not a normal thing to have pain with penetration and it can be treated. If you have pain with intercourse, you should talk about it, and ask for help.
Painful sex can influence other bladder/ pelvis conditions such as urgency and frequency and bladder leakages. I believe that penetration, or vaginal stimulation is essential for a healthy vagina.
Decreased libido can be one of the causes for painful sex. When there is decreased libido, your body doesn't produce as much vaginal lubrication, and penis friction against a dry vagina will cause pain. Decreased libido can happen for many reasons. It is important to learn why there is decreased libido.
Let’s talk about sexual health! SEX and PAIN should not go together!
Sexual dysfunction in men
Pelvic health physiotherapy can help with sexual function in men, including improving erectile function, pain with ejaculation or penile/ scrotum pain.
Erectile Dysfunction can be caused by a lack of pelvic floor muscle control, but also by many other diseases or conditions. I usually recommend men to consult with their physicians before coming to see me, as erectile dysfunction could be a symptom of other medical conditions.
