Achieve Your Wellness Goals with Therapeutic Pilates LLC

What is the vulva? The vulva includes all the external pelvic floor anatomy.  This includes your mons pubis, outer and inner labia, clitoris, urethral opening and vaginal opening.  

There are different types of pelvic pain:

Vulvodynia is a term that simply means pain to the vulva.  Pain can occur in different locations around this region either due to skin sensitivity, irritation to the bladder or urethra, overactive pelvic floor muscles, scar tissue, or myofascial restriction.  There may be sensitivity to sitting or wearing tight clothing.  Pain may also occur during specific times at the start, during, or after intercourse.  Your therapist can help to determine which structures are generating pain and how to problem solve how to reduce irritation to these region with discussion on activity modifications, postural modifications, bladder habit re-training, pelvic floor stretches, and pelvic floor strengthening exercises.  

Vaginismus is an involuntary muscle spasm of the pelvic floor muscle upon insertion whether this be from devices such as a tampon or speculum or exam or pain with intercourse. This may occur in isolation or in conjunction with vulvodynia.

If your therapist determines you are showing signs and symptoms of an active infection through visual inspection or from your history, they may ask you to see your gynecologist or urogynecologist prior to continuing with rehab.  It is important you are addressing or managing (with your provider) any active infections prior to coming to physical therapy. 

There are also circumstances where you are coming to physical therapy and managing your condition with prescribed medication.  For instance, estrodial cream may be ordered to help the healing process and make the tissue more elastic. This will be decided on with your urogynecologist or gynecologist.  Before using any time of moisturizer or medication, consult your doctor first.