Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Treatment
Are Pelvic Issues Affecting Your Sex Life And Mental Health?
Pelvic floor dysfunction is more than just a physical condition—many women experience difficult emotional and mental symptoms as the result of painful, uncomfortable sex. Furthermore, because mutually pleasurable sex is essential for healthy relationships, pelvic floor issues are bound to impact the relationships of the women who experience them.
What Are Your Symptoms?
Vulvodynia – chronic, unexplained pain around the opening of the vagina
Vestibuldonyia or vulvar vestibulitis (VVS) – chronic pain and discomfort inside of the inner lips of the vagina
Dyspareunia – genital pain occurring before, during, or after sex
Vaginismus – automatic tensing of muscles during vaginal penetration, not always related to sex (for example, inserting a tampon can trigger symptoms)
Endometriosis – a disorder in which uterine tissue grows in places it doesn’t belong, often resulting in painful periods, fertility issues, and uncomfortable sex
Adenomyosis – similar to endometriosis, except instead of uterine tissue growing outside of the uterus, it grows within the uterine walls, resulting in similar symptoms of pain and discomfort
Whether or not you’ve been officially diagnosed with one of these issues, you may feel anxious, depressed, and betrayed by your body. And though you’ve probably sought out treatment with a medical doctor or physical therapist, you may have developed lingering mental health side effects because of your discomfort—especially as it relates to your ability to become physically intimate with your partner(s).
Alongside physical interventions, mental health support can be essential in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction and disorders. Working together in therapy, I can help you explore the emotional sides of your experience so you can have healthier, more satisfying, and less painful sex.
When It Comes To Women’s Sexual Health, Painful Sex Is An Incredibly Common Issue
If you are suffering from pelvic floor pain and dysfunction, you are not alone. According to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), nearly three out of four women experience painful sex.¹ While pain is not always indicative of the physical conditions listed above, the more chronic symptoms become, the more likely it is that a pelvic floor condition has developed.
What Makes Sex Painful?
If you have pelvic floor dysfunction, it means that your pelvis cannot fully relax or operate as intended, which causes arousal and penetration to be uncomfortable.
There are many reasons why pelvic floors malfunction. Uterine disorders like endometriosis and adenomyosis can cause a flare-up of symptoms both in and outside of the vagina. And in some cases, symptoms might follow childbirth.
However, root causes are not always purely physical—oftentimes, emotional trauma lies at the core of many symptoms. As women, we experience disproportionate rates of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, so becoming intimate can be intimidating at times. It makes sense that our bodies tense up or alert us to perceived danger as we become physically and emotionally vulnerable.
Relaxation techniques and physical therapy can be great interventions in treatment for pelvic floor dysfunction, but these interventions can only go so far. Working with a mental health therapist who will help you untangle symptoms and process trauma can be beneficial in achieving optimal emotional, relational, and sexual satisfaction.
Mental Health Treatment For Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Through Maria Kourounis Therapy, LCSW PLLC
Living with pain has likely impacted your quality of life on many levels—in addition to discomfort, you may be grappling with feelings of shame, frustration, and loneliness. A therapist offers you a safe space to unpack your emotions and experience validation.
As someone who suffers from adenomyosis, a history of traumatic experiences, and anxiety, I can deeply empathize with your pain. I know that the mental, emotional, and physical issues you are struggling with are not just in your head. Together in counseling, we will work to create a tailored and actionable treatment plan that will help you feel better and navigate through the obstacles.
What To Expect
Therapy will start with an overview of your symptoms and history. As I learn more about your relationship to your body, the messaging you have been given about sex, and any past sexual trauma, I will begin to individualize the treatment process according to your unique experience. From there, our sessions will focus on the emotional and/or situational factors that contribute to pelvic floor pain and dysfunction.
Together, we will explore strategies to help you feel more relaxed and in control. I will help you overcome feelings of shame you have around sex and masturbation, giving you an opportunity to experience more pleasure. I might also offer you communication tactics to help reduce feelings of guilt between you and your partner. Any assignments I give in therapy are designed to increase knowledge of sexual health and enhance satisfaction.
My Approach
As an interpersonal, psychodynamic mental health therapist, I am particularly interested in the ways that you relate to yourself and others, providing insight into some of the unconscious and attachment-based factors contributing to your distress.
Approaching treatment holistically—by recognizing the strong connection between mind and body—will be the key to managing pelvic floor pain and dysfunction. Therefore, I draw from a range of evidence-based treatment models for pelvic floor dysfunction, including mindfulness and behavioral therapy. By becoming more aware of the emotional process that happens before, during, and after penetration, you will be able to develop a new understanding of your pain and the coping strategies needed to overcome it. And my strength-based approach to therapy will help you identify your innate wisdom and capacity for healing.
Women don’t always have safe spaces where we can discuss our sexual health, histories, and desires. But therapy is an opportunity to normalize your experience and feel more comfortable in your body. As a mental health therapist invested in your emotional and sexual health, I will be with you every step of the way.
Still Unsure If Therapy Can Help You?
Does therapy actually work for treating painful sex?
It’s amazing how healing and transformative it can be to simply talk through your experiences. Therapy allows you to gain perspective on your story and develop new, insightful solutions. As your therapist, I will work with you to create healthier responses and communication techniques so that you can experience more relaxation and comfort.
That said, therapy is not a magic pill—you must continue to practice the skills we work on together in order to see true and lasting progress. I will provide you with concrete stress and emotion regulation techniques that you can practice outside of our sessions together; the more you engage in these techniques, the better you will feel.
I don’t need to see a therapist—I can just talk to a friend or family member about my concerns.
I am glad to hear that you have a support system you can turn to when you are struggling. That said, your friend or family member is not a mental health professional. Unlike therapists, they are not specifically trained in matters of emotional, mental, and sexual health.
Furthermore, as a therapist, I am your specific and unique support system. You don’t have to worry about me being judgmental, biased, or uncomfortable about anything you tell me. I’ve struggled with some of these issues myself. Not to mention, patient confidentiality protects your privacy, which is not something you can guarantee among friends and family.
What can I do to get the most out of treatment?
That’s a great question! Active participation and dedication are going to be essential to your success in treatment. Since we will likely only see each other once a week, it’s important that you commit to skills-building outside of our sessions together.
You Can Have New, More Enjoyable Sexual Experiences
Alongside physical therapy and intravaginal treatment, mental health counseling is a meaningful tool for reducing symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction and painful sex. Contact me to schedule a free, 15-minute consultation and find out more about how I can help.
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