Vulval and/or vaginal pain can have a huge impact on a person’s enjoyment of sex and make penetrative sex difficult and uncomfortable. The medical term for painful sexual intercourse is dyspareunia, but you may have also heard the terms vaginismus, vulvodynia or vestibulodynia, which can all cause difficulties with penetration and/or painful sex.
Just over 8% of the population experience pain during penetrative vaginal sex, making it very common, and there are a number of physical and psychological factors than can contribute to it.
This programme includes information about what can contribute to difficulties with penetration and/or painful sex. It can help you understand how difficulties may have developed and are being maintained. It also explains practical sex therapy exercises that can help reduce pain and any difficulties with penetration, and increase the pleasure you experience during sex.
What this programme involves
Stage 1 - Assessment
- Questions about you, your health and wellbeing, and your sexual difficulties
- A medical letter to download
Stage 2 – Psychoeducation
- What can cause painful sex and difficulties with penetration
- Understanding arousal
- Worrying thoughts
- Conditions for good sex
- Other contributing factors
- Review
Stage 3 - Exercises to complete alone
- Relaxing your pelvic floor muscles
- Mindfulness
- Mindful awareness to sexual sensations
- Exploring self-touch
- Gradual penetration
- Review
Stage 4 - Exercises you can do with a partner (if relevant for you)
- Working together
- Making an agreement together
- Getting reacquainted
- Gradual penetration with a partner
- Review
Stage 5 – Reflection and evaluation
- Reflection –what has been helpful and what to take forward
- Evaluation of your progress
- What next?