Sexual Health Treatments Offered by Femina Physical Therapy

Learn about low intensity shockwave therapy for painful intercourse (dyspareunia)

Our team at Femina Physical Therapy is committed to providing the highest level of evidence-based care. That is why we are conducting a research study to determine the effectiveness of low intensity shockwave therapy for painful intercourse, or dyspareunia as it is known clinically. We are searching for volunteers to participate in this high quality study. Those who qualify to participate will receive a significantly reduced rate on all visits related to the study + will receive our world-class physical therapy program for treating painful sex!

Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD) is a condition that is poorly understood.

Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder is a rare disorder most commonly seen in those with female anatomy and is characterized persistent sensations of genital arousal in the absence of sexual desire or stimulation. These sensations typically stay after orgasm and are intrusive, unwanted, and can negatively affect quality of life.

The diagnosis itself is not well known among healthcare practitioners yet alone the general public. Those who experience its symptoms can be hesitant to talk about it with their healthcare practitioners even though it may be affecting their quality of life.

Manual Therapy Skills are an Often Overlooked Aspect of Physical Therapy

In is well documented in journals such as the International Urogynecology Journal and Harvard Medical School that patients see positive outcomes when they receive treatment with trained pelvic floor therapists. One of the most valued skills of a trained pelvic floor therapist is their manual therapy skills.

What is Manual Therapy?

Manual therapy is a clinical treatment approach using skilled, specific hands-on techniques to diagnose and treat soft tissues of the body. Manual therapy is used in a wide variety of rehabilitation settings, on all parts of the body.

Vaginismus Recovery is Possible

Is it painful to insert a tampon, get through a gynecological pelvic exam, or engage in intercourse? Have you always just thought maybe it’s just supposed to hurt and began to shy away from it all? You’re not alone. There are many women who have felt and thought the same things. What you are feeling is real and the culprit may be a condition called Vaginismus.

What is Vaginismus?

The definition of Vaginismus has been debated over the years and was first introduced into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), Third Edition in 1980. It was defined as a “recurrent or persistent involuntary spasm of the musculature of the outer third of the vagina that interferes with sexual intercourse”.¹ And now in the DSM, Fifth Edition categorized as a disorder in which any form of vaginal penetration or insertion such as tampons, a digit, gynecological exams, vaginal dilators and intercourse is painful or impossible. Women have described it as “hitting a wall”. This disorder has been put under the umbrella of genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD) in conjunction with dyspareunia (“recurrent or persistent genital pain associated with sexual intercourse”).²

Unlike other offices, your first visit to Femina Physical Therapy is a thorough 85 minute evaluation.

Here's an outline of what to expect when it comes to pelvic floor therapy.

The goal of this initial evaluation is to understand all the different layers that could possibly be contributing to your condition. Once we understand the root causes of your issue, we will formulate a treatment plan to help you start feeling better, experiencing less pain, and getting back to the activities that you care about.

Anorgasmia / Dysorgasmia - Orgasm Related Problems and Solutions

Anorgasmia and Dysorgasmia are clinical terms whose symptoms include complete lack of orgasm, diminished orgasms, and even painful orgasms. Causes can include physical, mental, and emotional factors.

Dysorgasmia / Painful Orgasms

Dysorgasmia is defined as a painful orgasm, but without any prior pain during sexual intercourse. The pain often manifests as a cramping sensation in the pelvis, buttock(s) or abdomen. The duration of pain from dysorgasmiacan last from seconds to minutes to several hours.

Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain

How Endometriosis can cause or contribute to chronic pelvic pain, and what pelvic floor therapy can do to help alleviate it

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition where endometrial-like tissue grows outside of the uterus (tissue that is similar to but not the same as endometrial tissue). The most common area for it to grow is in the abdominal cavity, where it can implant on the surface of other structures including the ovaries, bladder, rectum, and along the walls of the abdomen and pelvis, but it can be found anywhere in the body.

The true prevalence of endometriosis is unknown since it takes a laparoscopic procedure to confirm the diagnosis, and many women either have no symptoms or seek no treatment (Signorello, Harlow, Cramer, Spiegelman, & Hill, 1997). However, up to 78% of women undergoing laparoscopic investigation for infertility and up to 82% of women investigated for pelvic pain were found to have endometriosis in one study (Schenken, 1996; Wellbery).

Actress Lena Dunham has been vocal about her experiences with endometriosis, most recently publishing an essay in American Vogue on electing to have a total hysterectomy after years of chronic pain due to the condition. We want our readers to know that a hysterectomy is not a cure for endometriosis (since endometriosis is not a disease of the uterus). A hysterectomy is a cure for Adenomyosis, which is a type of endometriosis that is found in the uterus.

Instruction in The IRAS Method is currently only available for individual instruction to patients (Qualified health care practitioners can be instructed in a group or individual setting, in your office or ours). This groundbreaking method was first introduced by Femina Physical Therapy founder, Dr. Heather Jeffcoat, to address hypertonic and overactive pelvic floor muscles. Using research-proven techniques, the IRAS Method has transformed womens' daily lives and improved their sexual function through this step-by-step program, helping women reach their goals in as little as 2 weeks*.

TheIRAS Method is a unique combination of physical therapy, massage,lymphatic drainage and neuromuscular techniques optimized to provide the quickest recovery of pelvic floor muscle spasm, hypertonicity and/or muscle overactivity. It is a proven system to help with common painful sex, bladder and bowel diagnoses.

Typical diagnoses this program is successful with include vaginismus, vulvodynia, vulvar vestibulitis, vestibulodynia, genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder, interstitial cystitis, urinary urgency and/or frequency, overactive bladder, vulvar or perineal itching, painful tampon insertion, constipation and other muscle-based diagnoses that lead to painful intercourse or voiding dysfunctions. Please contact us for details.

 *2 weeks typical for painfree tampon insertion goal; additional goals may vary.