Both women and men can experience pain with sexual activity. In fact, as many as 60% of women will experience pain with intercourse at some point in their lives.[i] Of these women, few actually seek treatment, believing that the topic is taboo, that they will not be believed, that nothing can be done for them, or that the pain is normal. In fact, I frequently work with women who went their whole sexual history having pain with intercourse, believing this was normal sensation.
Some women experience pain at the entrance of the vagina, while others may experience pain with deeper penetration. Pain may be experienced just before, during, or after sexual activity.
Sources of pain during intercourse that are treatable with physical therapy include tissue and visceral restrictions, pelvic floor dysfunction, nerve hypersensitivity, and tailbone alignment.