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Pain 'Down There'
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10 CONDITIONS COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH SEXUAL PAIN

10/26/2016

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10 Conditions Commonly Associated with Sexual Pain
​

1. Fibromyalgia, Migraine, and other Chronic Pain Conditions

The conditions can cause body/joint aches, tender points on the body (trigger points), exhaustion, fuzzy thinking, and sleep problems. Hypersensitivity of the central nervous system may be the linkage between these various disorders and chronic pelvic and sexual pain. All can be considered as chronic regional pain syndromes. 

2. Interstitial Cystitis (IC)

Unlike the kind of cystitis that can be treated with antibiotics, IC is a chronic inflammatory condition of the bladder wall. Some of the symptoms are an urge to urinate frequently, stinging the area surrounding the urethra, increased nighttime voiding (urinating), and a variety of pelvic and sexual pain symptoms. 

3. Irritable Bowel (IBS)

Constipation and/or diarrhea are symptoms of this syndrome. Some women find that IBS flare ups correlate to an increase in vaginal irritation. Therefore foods that aggravate the bowel may also cause vaginal symptoms. 

4. Lichen Sclerosis 

This is an inflammatory chronic skin condition most common in the external genital area. Symptoms may range from none (for years) to mild or severe itching and irritation. Lichen Sclerosis does appear to be relatively prevalent in women with vulvodynia and sexual pain disorders. It can cause splitting and "paper cut" type tears in the region around the vaginal opening. 

5. Myofascial Pain Syndrome 

Myofascia are the muscles and connective tissue in the body. When in spasm, knots and "trigger points" develop that need to be released to eliminate pain and restore function. These trigger points in the pelvic myofascia can cause sexual pain. 

6. Pelvic Endometriosis 

Endometriosis occurs when endometrial cells, normally found only in the uterus, become imbedded in locations outside the uterus. These locations are usually within the pelvic cavity on reproductive organs, supportive ligaments, or structural systems like the bladder or bowel. 

This misplaced tissue forms growths that look like dark spots. These growths respond to the menstrual cycle and break down and bleed each month, the same way the lining of the uterus does. This causes cyclical pain and inflammation - called dysmenorrhea.  Additionally, the body’s immune response to this internal bleeding and breakdown of blood and tissues begins to cause scar tissue and adhesions (affected pelvic organs or structures adhering to one another) which can also cause ongoing pain. 

Endometriosis affects millions of women but is often over diagnosed as the primary cause of pelvic and sexual pain. If the pain or deep sexual discomfort is intermittent and all month long, even though it may become worse leading up to the menstrual period, endometriosis may not be the primary reason for the pain. If you have been diagnosed and treated for endometriosis and you don't begin to get signifiant improvement either after medication or surgical treatment, insist on further evaluation for bladder, bowel, musculoskeletal, or nerve related causes of your pain. ​

7. Pelvic Floor Dysfunction 

The pelvic floor encompasses all the muscles that surround and support the pelvic organs (uterus, bladder, and lower bowel). To function appropriately, these muscles must be toned. However, elevated tone in the pelvic floor muscles, making them too tight, tense, and "turned on" can result in painful sex and difficulty with bladder and bowel function. On the other hand, too little tone can lead to bladder and bowel incontinence (leakage) or prolapse (falling down, out of normal position). Pelvic floor dysfunction can refer to either too much or too little tone. 

8. Previous life-long Pelvic Trauma 

Events such as physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, surgeries, accidental injuries, and cumulative aggravating structural factors can play a role in sexual pain. Additional possibilities include years of various sports activities such as gymnastics, cheerleading, track & field, soccer, ballet dancing, horseback riding, skating, etc. More and more women have engaged heavily and competitively in these sports over the past few decades, making them extremely vulnerable to these types of bodily stresses. The nervous system bio-chemically "imprints" and "remembers" these accumulated traumas, and any or all of these may predispose a young woman to sexual and pelvic pain disorders even years later. 

9. Generalized Vulvodynia 

Generalized vulvodynia is a subset of vulvodynia, it is less common than vulvar vestibulodynia (see below) and often very difficult to successfully treat. It is a deeper, more generalized pain. Pain can occur spontaneously (unprovoked) or in response to touch or pressure (provoked, such as by intercourse). Pain emanating from the pudendal nerve and its distribution may be a significant contributor to this condition in some cases (pudendal neuralgia). 

10. Vulvar Vestibulodynia (Vestibulitis)

This condition causes pain and inflammation at the vaginal opening. Women describe the pain as burning, itching, raw, sandpaper, ground glass, and stinging. It is commonly mistaken for vaginal yeast infections and is often treated incorrectly. Vestibulitis is the most common reason for entrance pain (painful sex) in reproductive-aged women. 
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Lady Bits: A Review

3/18/2016

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Understand Your Body, Elevate Your Health, and Reclaim Your Spark ~ Naturally 
LADY BITS 
Book By: Dr. Brianne Grogan, DPT 
Founder of FemFusion Fitness 

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I'm so thankful to Dr. Brianne Grogan for this inspirational book for women. With a background in women's health physical therapy she is the perfect author to take us through the challenges (and delights!) of being female. I would recommend that any and every woman read this book. It's not specifically for women who are experiencing sexual and pelvic pain but it is for women who are experiencing being a woman! (Redundant, I know). But truly, I gained valuable insights and perspectives from Brianne's knowledge base that she's built up over years of both clinical practice and personal study and research. 

Certain pieces of these "lady bits" of information have really stuck with me after finishing the book.  I love that Brianne acknowledges that not everything in the book is going to connect with every woman all the time. But she encourages you to really own the pieces that do resonate with you. For instance, since reading the book I daily think about these suggestions from Brianne:

- Move everyday
This way of phrasing the importance of movement just lifts pounds of pressure off of me. While I certainly will not (and frankly cannot) "exercise" everyday I can sure move everyday. One day I can do some heavier household chores while appropriately engaging my pelvic floor and core musculature. The next day I can dance to a few of my favorite songs.  I can practice yoga, I can get up from the computer and take a walk. I can chase my kitten around the house. I can move everyday. 

- The 80/20  Rule
When it comes to my lifestyle: diet/nutrition, stress management, physical fitness, minimizing my exposure to toxins, etc. it is completely unrealistic to think I'm going to get it right 100% of the time. So, I'll be quite content to get it right 80% of the time. Even if I aim for 100% and land at 80% I'll accept that. Can't crockpot my bone broth for 24 hours (to get the most benefit) but I can crockpot it for 16 hours? That's ok. 80/20 Rule! Ate clean all week then indulged in too many potato chips on Saturday afternoon? It's ok. 80/20 Rule! 

- Stop Rushing to Pee
Of all the things that we do in a rush, peeing shouldn't be one of them. For goodness sake, I need to give my body some relaxed moments if at no other time, then during urination. Instead of pushing it out as fast as possible so I can get back to my day, I now try to mindfully pee. Gently relax my pelvic floor muscles and allow it some time, concluding with some pelvic rocks (tilt back and forth) to help fully empty the bladder.

Those are a few of the bits I've learned from Brianne that I use and think about everyday. The book is so rich with practical, inspirational, and simple tools to empower you with information that isn't overwhelming and will make you smile. I also love, of course, that she spends plenty of time on the importance of pelvic floor function and health. How this topic continues to get missed in women's health is still baffling to me. No such issue in this book, however. Brianne helps us understand our body and the inner core mechanics and postures that will help us age radiantly! Brianne also provides free online videos to walk you through what she calls the "Inner Core Energizer". 

Again, this book isn't specifically for women who are experiencing pain in the pelvic region and we wouldn't (nor would Brianne - as she does discuss) recommend that you take part in "Kegels" or inner core strengthening techniques until you are fully able to relax your pelvic floor. After years of holding my pelvic floor tight and clenched in, my pelvic muscles became hypertonic (too tense) and lost their proper function. Which lead to repercussions like persistently painful sexual intercourse. After rehabilitating the muscles through specialized pelvic floor physical therapy and the concepts in the video guide Healing the Pain 'Down There': A Guide for Females with Persistent Genital & Sexual Pain I can participate, though modified, in the Inner Core Energizer routine. And for my female friends and family members who are exhibiting symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse (when pelvic floor muscles become too loose and pelvic organs begin to drop because their support structure, the pelvic floor muscles, are weakened)  I love telling them all about 'Lady Bits' and Dr. Brianne Grogan. Thanks again to Brianne for this comprehensive resource for women! 


BUY LADY BITS NOW IN DIGITAL OR PRINT
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HYPERTONIC (TOO TENSE, TIGHT) PELVICFLOOR MUSCLES VS. HYPOTONIC (TOO LOOSE) PELVICFLOORMUSCLES.

10/9/2014

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Hypertonic pelvic floor muscles (or hypertonicity) are too tight and tense which can lead to pain and can also create weakness which can actually lead to incontinence (loss of control) of the bladder. Hypotonic pelvic floor muscles (or hypotonicity) are too loose and can also lead to incontinence of both the bladder and the bowels. So both hypertonicity and hypotonicity can lead to loss of bladder control. However, loss of bowel control is more often associated with hypotonic related weakness. Pain would only be associated with hypertonicity. So to recap:

Hypertonic pelvic floor muscles (hypertonicity):
  • Pelvic floor muscles are too tight and tense 
  • Sometimes associated with pain
  • Tightness can lead to weakness
  • Weakening of the muscles can cause loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence) 

Hypotonic pelvic floor muscles (hypotonicity):
  • Pelvic floor muscles are too loose
  • Generally not associated with pain
  • Associated with both loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence) and loss of bowel control (fecal incontinence) as well as prolapse or “dropping of the pelvic organs” - a topic for another time. 
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    Stephanie Yeager: Passionate about spreading the word of hope and healing for those like her, influencing a paradigm shift in the medical community toward greater understanding of chronic pelvic pain disorders, and prevention initiatives that may protect young women before onset can occur. 

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  • Welcome
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