PELVIC PAIN

Pelvic pain can be a complex condition. It can be a hidden problem and often women suffer for many years both physically and emotionally before finding help.

As women, most of us feel pain at some time or another in our pelvic region, such as with our monthly menstrual cycle. Some women experience pelvic pain at other times, and this is when it becomes a little more complicated.

Chronic pelvic pain can originate from a variety of sources in the pelvis; you may have been diagnosed with vaginismus, vulvodynia, endometriosis, adenomyosis, pudendal neuralgia, painful bladder syndrome, or coccydynia.

You may have never spoken to a doctor and have no diagnosis.

Typically in women with chronic pelvic pain, pelvic floor muscles are found to be high in tone or in spasm - much like a muscle in your neck can spasm or tighten up after a long day of work in front of the computer. This tone within your pelvic floor muscles can cause pain.

If you have difficulty relaxing or 'letting go' of your pelvic floor muscles, sex can be painful. Sometimes these muscles spasm involuntarily in anticipation of pain or penetration. High tone, tight, or overactive muscles can lead to ongoing pelvic, vulval, vaginal, coccyx, and / or bladder pain.

Common symptoms

Painful sex either on penetration or during

Pain inserting a tampon

Pain having a smear test

Involuntary pelvic floor muscle spasm

Pain with sitting & tight clothing

Pain on emptying your bladder

Pain with a full bladder

Difficulty and pain having a bowel movement

General chronic pelvic pain

Tail bone (coccyx) pain

Feeling tired, depressed, hopeless or anxious with your pelvic pain

Possible causes of pelvic & sexual pain

Tense, tight pelvic floor muscles

Over training of core / abdominal muscles

Irritation, injury or compression of a nerve

Inflammatory conditions of the skin and vulva

A musculoskeletal cause such as sacroiliac joint dysfunction affecting the pelvic floor muscles

Hormonal changes associated with menopause affecting the tissue

Psychological factors such as mood, relationship issues or past abuse

How can we help?

We will assess for structural and soft tissue changes to the spinal and pelvic joints, pelvic floor dysfunction and vaginal structure.

The protective guarding response that can occur in women with chronic pelvic pain needs to be unlearned, so that the body begins to remember that inserting something into the vagina does not need to be painful. This can be achieved through physiotherapy to desensitize the area and gently stretch any contracted vaginal tissues.