Start Your Pelvic Health Journey
It is not uncommon for patients with autoimmune diseases to come see us because of difficulties with arousal, pain with sex or orgasms, and/or erectile dysfunction. This is because the chronic inflammation that occurs with autoimmune conditions impacts how nerves function, alters blood flow, and can make it difficult to sustain an erection or can cause vaginal dryness. Additionally, joint pain, muscle aches, and other pain symptoms associated with autoimmune diseases can make sexual activity uncomfortable or painful, and some autoimmune conditions can disrupt hormone balance, impacting sexual desire, arousal and overall sexual function. Autoimmune conditions like lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis are examples of systemic autoimmune diseases that can be associated with sexual dysfunction.
One meta analysis and systematic review conducted by Minopoulou I, Pyrgidis N, Tishukov M, et al. in 2023 found that 63% of people with a systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (like lupus, Sjogren’s, and rheumatoid arthritis) have sexual dysfunction. They found that women with Sjögren's syndrome and systemic sclerosis reported the highest levels of sexual dysfunction.1
Additionally, “A 2024 meta-synthesis of 6 studies involving people with inflammatory arthritis conditions found that sexual function was impacted by pain, lower sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, fluctuations in disease activity, altered self-image, and confidence in sexuality, with negative impacts on intimate relationships with partners.”2,3
What can pelvic floor therapy do to help my Autoimmune condition?
If you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and notice that you have any symptoms of sexual dysfunction, our pelvic health physical therapists can help you! When a person comes to us with sexual dysfunction and also has an autoimmune condition, we take a thorough history of their symptoms, previous treatments, current medications, and current providers. We then conduct an orthopedic assessment that includes screening the spine, hips, legs and feet as well as any other body regions that may be impacted by the person’s condition. This may include observation of day-to-day movements such as bending over, reaching, squatting, walking, and balance. Additionally, we check range of motion and flexibility, muscle and soft tissue mobility and tender points, strength and muscle coordination. This is followed by a pelvic floor assessment which entails observation of pelvic floor muscle function, tissue health, and checking for any trigger points/ tenderness in the person’s pelvic floor muscles externally and internally depending upon the person’s comfort level at that time. The goal of these assessments is to determine what is driving the person’s sexual dysfunction and pain, and then targeting physical therapy treatment toward these areas.
How long until I see results in physical therapy?
Each person’s physical therapy treatment plan is unique because no two people are exactly alike! In general, people will begin to see improvements in their pain and functioning in about four sessions, however the complete treatment plan duration does vary from person to person depending upon their symptoms, areas of treatment, and how long symptoms have been going on.
Our pelvic health physical therapists are here to support you!
All of our physical therapists have specialized training in treating and healing pelvic pain, sexual dysfunctions, and the associated difficulties with day-to-day functioning that can go along with an autoimmune disease. Our goal is to provide compassionate, evidence-based, and effective treatments to help you feel and function at your best. Contact our office to start getting the care and support you deserve.
Sources:
- Minopoulou I, Pyrgidis N, Tishukov M, et al. Sexual dysfunction in women with systemic autoimmune rheumatic disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023;62(3):1021-1030. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keac457
- Ackerman IN, Restoux L, Dobo B, Slater H, Ross MH, Briggs AM. Holistic Care for People Living With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: The Relevance and Importance of Sexual Function. Phys Ther. 2024;104(8):pzae083. doi:10.1093/ptj/pzae083
- Restoux LJ, Dasariraju SR, Ackerman IN, Van Doornum S, Romero L, Briggs AM. Systematic review of the impact of inflammatory arthritis on intimate relationships and sexual function. Arthritis Care Res. 2020;72:41–62. doi: 10.1002/acr.23857.
