Painful sex (or dyspareunia) is a serious and surprisingly common problem for millions of women in the United States. Researchers estimate as many as 46% of Americans — predominantly women — suffer from painful symptoms during or after sexual intercourse.
While dyspareunia is common, the good news is that it’s also treatable. The new year is a great time to prioritize your sexual health and pleasure and find an effective, long-term solution for your symptoms.
In Santa Monica, women suffering from painful sex turn to Shamsah Amersi, MD, for customized, compassionate dyspareunia therapy focused on relieving their symptoms and improving their overall quality of life. If you’re experiencing dyspareunia symptoms, here’s how she can help.
Physical therapy for dyspareunia focuses on the pelvic floor muscles that support your bladder, uterus, and other pelvic organs. If these muscles and ligaments are unusually tight or inflamed, they can contribute to pain during and after intercourse.
During treatment, your therapist uses special techniques to relieve muscle tension and improve the function of the pelvic floor. These techniques can include special pelvic floor exercises, manual relaxation techniques, or even biofeedback focused on relieving tension and improving comfort during sexual activity.
Sometimes, dyspareunia is related to a stiff or inflexible vagina or from vaginal atrophy during menopause. In these instances, vaginal dilation can be helpful.
Dilation involves inserting a special silicone or plastic device into your vagina to improve the strength and flexibility of your vaginal walls and your pelvic floor muscles. Dilators range in size depending on your anatomy and needs. Dr. Amersi can recommend a size and brand that suits your needs.
Your hormones play a big role in keeping your vagina healthy, flexible, and lubricated. When hormone levels decline during the years leading up to menopause, your vagina can become dry, stiff, and irritated, leading to significant discomfort during and after intercourse. Lower hormone levels can also increase your risks of urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence.
Hormone replacement therapy uses bioidentical hormones to supplement the hormones your body produces. Hormone creams and ointments are applied directly to the vaginal tissue for immediate relief, but systemic hormone therapy is available in patches, shots, and pills, as well.
Many women use lubricants to enhance sexual pleasure regardless of whether or not they suffer from dyspareunia. Lubricants are especially helpful for women suffering from vaginal dryness, a common problem during menopause and perimenopause, and after pregnancy too.
While lubricants can be used alone, data show they are especially effective when combined with topical estrogen therapy. Dr. Amersi can recommend the best lubricant for you from the many dozens available over the counter and by prescription.
MonaLisa Touch is a special laser system that’s designed expressly for treating vaginal atrophy, a chronic condition leading to vaginal dryness and irritation, thinning of the vaginal tissue, and painful sex. The system uses laser energy to create tiny areas of controlled tissue damage that stimulate healing responses, including improved lubrication and collagen production for better elasticity and tone.
Treatments are performed right in the office in under an hour. Best of all, they can be repeated for continued improvements and long-lasting relief.
Dyspareunia can have different causes, and many women benefit from a treatment plan involving more than one type of therapy. To learn more about treatments to relieve pain and restore your quality of life, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Amersi at her Santa Monica, California, office today.
