Pain Related Pelvic Floor Dysfunction :: Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

The muscles of the pelvic floor cause problems when they weaken but they can also cause problems when they overwork and have difficulty relaxing. When these muscles spasm, blood flow decreases and there is a build up of lactic acid. This will cause pelvic pain.

Vaginismus

Vaginismus is a condition where the pelvic floor muscles suddenly become so tense that to try and insert something into the vagina is impossible or very painful. It is a very distressing condition.

Often there's no obvious explanation, but some things thought to cause vaginismus include:

fear that your vagina is too small
a bad first sexual experience
an unpleasant medical examination
a belief that sex is shameful or wrong
a painful medical condition, like thrush

Treatment usually focuses on:

managing your feelings around penetration
exercises to gradually get you used to penetration

We work with you, at a pace you are comfortable with, to fully relax your pelvic floor muscles and have better control over them. With gentle squeezing we can gain better relaxation, breathing and visualisation exercises and through gentle touch we can aim to fully relax the pelvic floor.