[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(255,255,255,0.78)” background_color_gradient_end=”#ffffff” background_color_gradient_direction=”198deg” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”http:\/\/www.annette.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pattern4.jpg” custom_margin=”-104px||||false|false” custom_padding=”|0px|80px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”40px” header_2_text_color=”#de4e63″ header_3_text_color=”#5b9536″]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IjxoMT4iLCJhZnRlciI6IjwvaDE+In19@[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.3″ custom_margin=”||42px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size=”17px”]<\/p>\n
You are not alone<\/span><\/p>\n Many women experience pain during and after sex and unfortunately some women experience pain every time they have sex. You may have been given a physical and\/or medical reason why sex is painful but sometimes it’s not clear why it hurts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Whether you have a clear diagnosis or not for the cause of the pain, it\u2019s easy to feel frustrated, helpless and hopeless if you\u2019re dealing with this issue. It can affect your relationship, your self esteem and your enjoyment of life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It is important to know that even if conventional medicine has found no cause for pain, it does not mean there you can\u2019t reduce or eliminate the pain so you can enjoy a satisfying sex life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Firstly, let\u2019s take a quick look at the differences between pain during sex and after sex. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(255,255,255,0.78)” background_color_gradient_end=”#ffffff” background_color_gradient_direction=”198deg” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”http:\/\/www.annette.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pattern3.jpg” custom_margin=”-18px||||false|false” custom_padding=”50px|0px|80px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.3″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.3″ ul_font_size=”20px” header_2_text_color=”#5b9536″]<\/p>\n Usually the pain occurs when a penis (or other object) tries to enter the vagina. For some women, even very shallow penetration is extremely painful. <\/span><\/p>\n For other women, penetration is okay until it gets very deep or is repeated again and again as is typical during sexual intercourse. <\/span><\/p>\n You may find that some positions are comfortable but others are painful. <\/span>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.5.3″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ custom_css_main_element=”margin:auto;”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.3″ ul_font_size=”20px” custom_margin=”||42px|||”]<\/p>\n Tight pelvic floor<\/b><\/p>\n Your pelvic floor is a band of muscles that support the organs in your pelvis, namely your uterus, bladder and bowels. They control the release of urine and faeces and they help with sexual sensation and function. You have control over these muscles although it\u2019s likely that like most of us, it\u2019s only when you start to have issues that you pay attention to them. <\/span><\/p>\n In women, tightness in the pelvic floor can cause pain with sex because your pelvic floor is supporting all the parts of your body associated with sex. If there is any pain, your body further tightens to prevent the pain. <\/span><\/p>\n Just the thought of painful sex in the past causes your brain to further tighten the pelvic floor muscles as a form of protection leading to more pain.<\/span><\/p>\n Relaxation exercises can help. I use a combination of Sobada, abdominal and pelvic massage to help relax the area and some other modalities like EFT Tapping to help release the recurring pattern of sex – tight muscles – pain – further tightening. <\/span><\/p>\n Endometriosis<\/b><\/p>\n In a recent study, 85% of women with endometriosis reported painful sex. <\/span><\/p>\n Women who have been diagnosed or suspect they have endometriosis often experience this kind of pain due to adhesions and endometriosis tissue that is found close to the vagina. Each thrust pushes against them causing pain.<\/span><\/p>\n Often, the whole pelvic area is tender and sensitive and any increased blood flow (see the section below) causes pain during or after sex. <\/span><\/p>\n You can read more about endometriosis here. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ custom_css_main_element=”margin:auto;”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/www.annette.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/1A7A9086-Edit-min-scaled.jpg” title_text=”1A7A9086-Edit-min” _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#a8cb5a”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.3″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” ul_text_color=”#ffffff” ul_font_size=”20px” header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”||42px|||”]<\/p>\n You may have sex and then find you experience excruciating pelvic pain afterwards. When you are aroused and during sex, there is an increase in blood flow in your pelvis. Your body is preparing for sex, producing arousal fluid to lubricate your vagina and facilitate a good sexual experience possibly including an orgasm. <\/span><\/p>\n Blood flow to your pelvis after sex <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n After sex, while you should be enjoying a post-coital glow, your body should be reducing the blood flow to your pelvis and sending all that blood back to the heart. Unfortunately, if the blood flow in your pelvis is not circulating as best as it should, you can experience pain. <\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s a bit like a traffic jam in your pelvis. All these cars have flooded to the area to prepare for the sexual experience but now their job is finished and they need to transport the waste products of the cells out of the area, the roads are blocked and they are stuck. <\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s quite possible that you are also experiencing other symptoms of lack of good flow<\/span><\/p>\n (blood, lymph and nerve energy) in your pelvis like painful periods or painful ovulation, heaviness and pain after eating, constipation or diarrhoea, feeling of heaviness and bloating in your pelvis around your period. <\/span><\/p>\n Pudendal nerve:<\/b> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Damage to the pudendal nerve can lead to pain and affect your ability to have or enjoy sex. The pudendal nerve is a major nerve in your pelvic region that sends movement and sensation information from your genital area. <\/span><\/p>\n The pudendal nerve runs through your pelvic floor muscles and one of it\u2019s functions is to provide your brain with information about touch, pleasure and pain to your vagina. <\/span><\/p>\n What can affect your pudendal nerve? Pressure on the nerve due to difficult labours and births, accidents\/trauma, pelvic surgery<\/span> <\/span>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(255,255,255,0.78)” background_color_gradient_end=”#ffffff” background_color_gradient_direction=”198deg” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”http:\/\/www.annette.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pattern3.jpg”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n NO! Pain is your body\u2019s way of telling you that something is wrong and I don\u2019t believe you should push through the pain. I believe you should get help so you can correct the underlying issue. Hopefully you have a patient and caring partner who can support you through this. Ignoring the pain can actually make the situation worse in the long run. <\/span><\/p>\n Your body is smart. So smart it sometimes knows before you do if it really wants to get intimate with someone. That\u2019s a subtle way of saying – \u201cMaybe you don\u2019t actually want to be having sex with this person\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n I know this is a super sensitive topic because there are many women in loving, committed relationships who are experiencing painful sex. I\u2019m not talking to them. I\u2019m talking to women who are feeling obligated to have sex with someone they don\u2019t really want to and their body is protesting and reflecting what they may not be able to admit to themselves. <\/span><\/p>\n Think about it. If someone you don\u2019t know approaches you and is about to touch you, you most likely tense up and flinch, preparing for an unwanted touch. The same thing can happen with sex. If you suspect this may be true with you, I suggest contacting a qualified couples therapist to discuss your issues together. <\/span>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n When working with clients who are experiencing painful sex, my goal is to improve blood flow and relax the pelvic muscles and pelvic floor muscles and reduce any tension or pain in the lower back using abdominal and pelvic massage, known as Sobada. You can read about the relationship between Sobada and Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy here. <\/span><\/p>\n When you\u2019re aroused the blood flow to your pelvis increases and after sex, that extra blood flow needs to drain back into regular circulation in your body. If blood flow in the area isn\u2019t good, you may actually experience pain free sex but suffer terribly afterwards. Sobada imp<\/span><\/p>\n When vaginal pain occurs it may be caused by stress and tension in the whole pelvis, and if we release the area with Sobada massage over the abdomen and back, the pain often reduces significantly and even disappears completely. <\/span><\/p>\n In addition, it will restore the uterus to its ideal position and improve blood flow to the area, making the experience of having sex more pleasurable and relaxing. If the pain is caused by endometriosis, Sobada can help to decrease pain and discomfort at different times during the month as well as pain connected to sex. <\/span><\/p>\n We are so much more than just our physical body. I allow plenty of time in client sessions to discuss how you\u2019re feeling emotionally and find ways to help you release any negative feelings gently and improve your self esteem and relationship while we are working together. <\/span><\/p>\n I use a combination of flower essences (Bach Flowers Essences and Israeli Flower Essences, guided imagery and Tapping (EFT Emotional Freedom Technique) because they are all effective methods for supporting women. <\/span>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″ background_color=”#fcd0d5″ custom_padding=”31px||31px||true|” global_module=”55514″ saved_tabs=”all”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.3″ custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″ custom_css_main_element=”margin: auto;”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.3″ text_font=”White Chocolate||||||||” text_font_size=”30px” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#de4e63″ text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”-8px||1px|||”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.3″]<\/p>\n I love helping women to overcome their fertility challenges and other issues related to your cycles, pregnancy, periods and\/or anxiety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
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Pain during sex: <\/b><\/h2>\n
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What causes pain during sex?<\/b> <\/span><\/h2>\n
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Pain after sex: <\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
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Should I push through the pain?<\/b> <\/span><\/h2>\n
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What\u2019s going on emotionally? Or \u201cDo you really want to have sex with this person?\u201d<\/b><\/h2>\n
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How can you improve the situation?<\/b> <\/span><\/h2>\n
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I\u2019m a holistic therapist and I am here to help you!<\/b><\/h2>\n