PELVIC PAIN OR PELVIC DYSPAREUNIA?

Dyspareunia is pain with vaginal penetration. This may be with sexual intercourse, insertion of a tampon or with gynacological exams. Pain may be noticed upon penetration or maybe deep pain with repetitive thrusting. Pain upon penetration may be caused by vaginismus. Vaginismus is pain at the vagina opening due to involuntary pelvic floor spasms. Pain which is deep and increases with thrusting maybe caused by endometriosis, uterine prolapse, scar tissue from abdominal surgeries. Sexual intercourse should not be painful. Is you have pain at the start of penetration, during intercourse or even pain after intercourse you should consult your doctor to rule out any serious infection or disease.

WOMEN THROUGH THE LIFE SPAN

1. Adolescence and menstruation: a developing teens body is going through a tremendous amount of change. The sudden surge of estrogen causes the development of breast, pubic hair and menses. Some discomfort with menstruation is normal due to the shedding of the lining of the uterus but excess bleeding and severe cramping resulting in loss of school attendance is not. Change in the center of gravity due to the emergence of breast and increased width of the hips can cause spinal pain resulting in altered spinal alignment if not corrected. Body image complex can develop and magnify the discomfort that comes with menstruation.

2. Prenatal issues: The womans body is truly an amazing machine. But along with creating a new being comes the discomfort. The pregnant body has to pull nutrients from the mom to nurish the infant often resulting in anemia, fatigue, foggy brain. The ligaments, ribs and pelvic bones have to adjust to make room for baby sometimes causing low back pain, pubic symphysis pain.

3. Post natal issues: After the delivery of a child the mom is often left in the shadow of the beautiful baby. Friends and family gush over the new born. They forget that moms have to deal with the postpartum bleeding/spotting that usually last 2-3 weeks. Some moms battle the pain and swelling from a c-section or episiotomy. Sacroiliac pain and diastasis recti dysfunction can make bending/ lifting the baby difficulty. Plugged painful engorges breast can develop into mastitis. Urinary incontinence is a common post natal issue that most moms think is normal so they don’t seek help. A pelvic physical therapist can help with all pre and post baby issues.

4. Perimenopause: one day you start t notice your periods are getting longer or shorter, you wake up with hot flashes, you experience vaginal dryness. This is the perimenopause stage.

5. Menopause: you are officially in menopause when you have missed a period for 12 months. This marks the time that your ovaries no longer release eggs for ovulation. Estrogen keep the vagina elastic and supple. As a result of decreased estrogen, women in menopause develop vaginal dryness resulting in pain with sex or bleeding with or after sex. Increase risk of osteoporosis especially for women with more than one pregnancy, urinary incontinence due to loss of elasticity of the pelvic floor muscles and for hysterectomies.