Welcome back to another Owning Your Sexual Self Podcast. This week I am joined with Dr. Amelia Ponchur to talk about the common issue of pain with sex.

Dr. Amelia Ponchur is a Doctor of Physical Therapy specializing in pelvic health physical therapy at Genesis PT & Wellness in Dallas, TX. She utilizes her orthopedic and sports background to look at take a “whole person” approach when treating her patients, whose complaints range from low back pain, tailbone or pubic pain, to incontinence, painful intercourse, and preparing for childbirth. Sexual wellness is a huge component of her care and she is excited to chat about how the two are so interrelated!

*Sexual trauma can make sex painful whether we realize we've experienced it or not.

*Every patient who experiences painful sex is different based on what is going on in their body.

Factors that contribute to painful sex:
-How you're breathing
-How are your hips moving? (body motion)
-Is your pelvic floor response to be tight?

Next Steps...
-Finding your awareness of the pelvic floor
-How can we strengthen or relax your pelvic floor?

Are you experiencing a feeling of dryness/rawness? Could this be an Estrogen issue?
Are you feeling pain with penetration, your pelvic floor may be too tense.
Is it pain with deeper penetration (sandpaper, burning sensation) there may be knots in the muscles that need to be worked out or positional problems.

Pain can be based on how you're breathing and the default rotation of your hips

"Vaginismus is the body's automatic reaction to the fear of some or all types of vaginal penetration. Whenever penetration is attempted, your vaginal muscles tighten up on their own. You have no control over it. Occasionally, you can get vaginismus even if you have previously enjoyed painless penetrative sex."
(https://www.nhs.uk)

A tool for people who experience pain from the deepest penetration of their partner
OhNut
"Designed with renowned clinicians, Ohnut is a soft compressible buffer made from 4 rings, that can be used together or individually to adjust when penetration feels too deep, without sacrificing sensation for you or your partner" 
(https://ohnut.co/)

Instagram: @genesisptwellness
Dr. Amelia's Instagram: @dr.amelia_dpt

Connect with Rachel!
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Website: https://linktr.ee/WellnessSexpertise
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Email: [email protected]

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Connect with Rachel!
Instagram: @The_Rachel_Maine
Website: https://linktr.ee/WellnessSexpertise
YouTube: YouTube.com/@OwningYourSexualSelf
Facebook: Rachel Maine
Email: [email protected]