Sexual Dysfunction: when sex isn’t fun

Humans have sex for many reasons including pleasure (it feels good), connection (good sex leaves us feeling emotionally bonded) and stress relief (it lowers our cortisol levels, improves mood and improves sleep). Your sexual wellbeing is an important part of your overall wellbeing so when there is an issue with sex it can impact your life in a big way.

Sexual dysfunction is when sex isn’t going the way you would like it to and it is causing you concern which can manifest in pain, lack of feeling, lack of enjoyment, lack of orgasm or lack of interest.

Thanks to programs like inyourskin.co, sex education is finally improving. For many of us however, sex education mainly consisted of a few lessons in middle school in which we put a condom on a banana, were warned about STI’s and taught how not to get pregnant. It did not include education on the anatomy of the clitoris, pelvic floor and healthy female sexual function.

Good sexual function is when sex is comfortable, enjoyable and satisfying. This does not always involve an orgasm (or pinnacle for Bridgerton fans) but is more about feeling emotionally and physically good about your sexual experiences. It is meant to be fun.

When sex is not fun it may be due to

·         painful penetration that gets worse over time (dyspareunia)

·         Inability to achieve penetration despite wanting to (vaginismus)

·         Burning pain at the vaginal opening or deeper in the vagina (vulvodynia and vestibulodynia)

·         Difficulty with orgasm/ inability to achieve orgasm (anorgasmia)

·         Leaking with orgasm (climacturia)

·         Lack of lubrication/ thinning and frail and uncomfortable vaginal tissue (Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause or GSM)

Sexual dysfunction for many can lead to suffering… a lot of suffering. The thing is that painful or problematic sex is never normal. It can have a far-reaching impact on your self-esteem, your mental health, your relationships and your quality of life. For younger women,sexual pain is one of the most underdiagnosed and undertreated conditions in women’s’ health. Women report being told to simply “use more lubricant” or “have a glass of wine” when what they actually need is proper assessment and evidence-based treatment.

A good pelvic floor physio is an expert in managing the pelvic floor in context of the whole person taking in to account their individual experiences, understanding, muscle states and mental states. Your pelvic floor contributes to your overall sexual function. The pelvic floor is basket of muscles at the base of your pelvis that play a central and active role in every stage of your sexual experience from arousal to sensation to penetration to orgasm and the ability to relax afterwards. When these muscles are not working as they normally would, it can lead to sex becoming uncomfortable unsatisfying or painful. The pelvic floor muscles may be too tight or too sensitised or not strong enough and not able to effectively coordinate a contraction or be able to relax.

Because people often don’t talk about sex when it is not going well, people can assume that they are the problem, and that that are just not “normal.” If you have been referred by your GP or gynaecologist to a pelvic health physio or you think you may have a sexual dysfunction, book an assessment with an experienced pelvic health physio because sexual dysfunction is treatable and sex should be fun.

Call 8239 2811 and make an appointment.