Posts Tagged ‘intercourse pain’

Discovering a Treatment for Intercourse Pain

Friday, March 27th, 2009

The Clear Passage Therapies (CPT) team is devoted to continual research and development. We always monitor our patients’ progress and feedback after treatment. Once we begin to notice a trend, we expand our research in that area to see how our treatment can help.

Long before CPT began treating intercourse pain, we did not even know our treatment could help in this area. Over time, the CPT team began to notice that many women who came for infertility treatment were also reporting decreased intercourse pain. Some women reported, “I’m not sure why, but I don’t experience pain anymore with intercourse.” Others were considerably bolder and told us, “My orgasms have been incredible since treatment!”

We decided to investigate further and also developed different manual physical therapy techniques that we felt could help female intercourse pain. We then conducted a study to scientifically test how our treatment could help sexual dysfunction and intercourse pain. The results, published in Medscape General Medicine, were more than we could have ever imagined. 91% of study participants experienced a reduction in intercourse pain and large percentages of women reported improvements in orgasm (56%), lubrication (70%), desire (78%), and arousal (74%).

CPT is now proud to offer a treatment plan specifically for women with intercourse pain and sexual dysfunction. As we continue on our path of education, self-improvement, and research, our treatment for these conditions only improves. Even better news is that at CPT, we never treat “parts” of our patients. We believe everything is connected; we often see that pain and dysfunction in one area is linked to dysfunction in another. So if you come for infertility treatment, but also experience intercourse pain, our therapists will treat both conditions. For more information, please see our article Infertility and Sexual Dysfunction are Linked, And Its Not All in Your Head and You Don’t Have to Cope with Painful Intercourse While Trying to Conceive.

Please visit our website to learn more about our treatment for female infertility, female sexual dysfunction, or painful intercourse. Not sure if you have sexual dysfunction? Read our article Is Your Sexual Function Normal?

The Role of the Cervix in Menstrual Pain

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

By Jackie

When women think of menstrual cramps, we normally think of the constant ache or throbbing pain in the pelvis. We seldom think cervix, but it is a key player in menstrual cramps.

During menstruation, the lining of the uterus detaches and exits the body through the cervix. The cervix is the opening to the uterus. In its natural, midline position, it opens slightly, allowing menstrual blood to pass into the vagina.

When adhesions form around the cervix or within its tissues (as pictured in the zoombox), the opening of the cervix can become narrowed.

When adhesions form around the cervix or within its delicate tissues (as shown in the zoombox), the opening of the cervix can be narrowed

But if the cervix has been damaged or adhesions have formed on or near the cervix, the cervix can elicit a great deal of pain during menstruation. If the cervix is pulled or pushed forward, backward, or to one side, it can make the passage of menstrual blood difficult and painful. If adhesions have formed on or near the cervix, the opening of the cervix can be constricted. When blood tries to pass through the constricted opening, it can elicit a great amount of pain.

Because the cervix is protected inside the vagina, many women are not aware of how easily the cervix can be damaged. Sexual intercourse or sexual abuse can physically push the cervix out of alignment. Any surgery in the pelvis can cause adhesions to form that constrict the cervix. Sexually transmitted diseases can create inflammation that leads to adhesion formation. STDs can also inflame the cervix, making the passage of menstrual blood painful. Radiation therapy causes the same process of adhesion formation and can leave the entire pelvis adhered. Even vaginal or yeast infections can lead to adhesion formation that constricts the cervix or pulls it out of alignment.

Many women who have adhesions in their reproductive tract or have cervixes that are out of alignment also experience pain during sexual intercourse. The same adhesions that constrict the cervix can also constrict the vaginal walls, leading to pain when stretched. To read more about the role of the cervix in intercourse pain, read Three Common Causes of Deep Penetration Pain.

Conventional treatment for adhesions involves laparoscopic surgery to lyse (burn) any adhesions. However, few women are willing to undergo surgery in a very delicate, personal area when their chief complaint is menstrual pain.

Clear Passage Therapies (CPT) offers a unique and effective alternative that directly treats adhesions and the cervix. Using manual physical therapy techniques, CPT therapists deform and detach adhesions. They also gently enable the cervix to move back to its natural position. Following treatment, may women report that their menstrual pain is significantly decreased or gone. Many women who previously experienced pain with intercourse also report that sex is no longer painful. To learn more about our treatment for menstrual cramps or how CPT can decrease painful intercourse, see our menstrual pain page or intercourse pain page.

Causes of Decreased Sensation During Intercourse

Monday, February 16th, 2009

Sexual intimacy and intercourse should provide some of life’s greatest pleasures. But because the female urogenital and reproductive organs are very susceptible to adhesions, intercourse can become painful, dissatisfying, and embarrassing. Many women still believe the old misconception that “there isn’t anything that can be done,” or “it’s just the way it is,” or “my mother didn’t enjoy sexual intimacy and neither did hers, therefore I won’t be able to either.”

If you are not satisfied with sexual intercourse, you are not alone. Did you know that approximately 50% of all US women and 43% of women aged 18-59 experience female sexual dysfunction (FSD) according to data from Urology and the Journal of the American Medical Association? In 2000, the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy classified female sexual dysfunction into six measurable domains: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Intercourse pain affects between 46% and 60% of all US women, according to reports in American Family Physician (2001) and Obstetrics & Gynecology (1996). Have you ever been informed that female sexual dysfunction can occur during any stage of intercourse?

Although sexual dysfunction and intercourse pain are prevalent among women, these conditions should not be considered “normal” or “untreatable.” A study published by the Journal of Sexual Medicine (2006)* found that many female competitive bicyclists experienced decreased genital sensation. The researchers found that external genital nerves and arteries were negatively affected by being directly compressed in women who consistently cycled an average of at least 10 miles a week, four weeks per month. The results of their study can also be applied to other physical activities such as horseback riding.

Other known causes of sexual dysfunction and intercourse pain include bladder infections, yeast infection, inflammatory disorders, sexually transmitted diseases, pelvic surgeries, physical or sexual abuse, etc. All of these conditions can cause adhesions to form within in the reproductive tract. Adhesions can restrict and blanket the delicate structures of the reproductive system, causing decreased sensation (such as in the bicyclists) or painful intercourse.

So what can a woman do once she experiences sexual dysfunction or painful intercourse? First, she should speak with her doctor to make sure there is not a greater problem at hand, such as endometriosis or a sexually transmitted disease. The doctor can then ascertain if the vulva has been damaged in any way and determine the proper treatment.

*Marsha K. Guess, Kathleen Connell, Steven Schrader, Susan Reutman, Andrea Wang, Julie LaCombe, Christine Toennis, Brian Lowe, Arnold Melman, Magdy Mikhail “Genital Sensation and Sexual Function in Women Bicyclists and Runners: Are Your Feet Safer than Your Seat?” Journal of Sexual Medicine. Vol 3, No 6.

Author Bio: Kandy Newland-Platt is a writer and administrator at Clear Passage Therapies.

Decreased Sensation During Intercourse

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009

By Kandy

Sexual intimacy and intercourse should provide some of life’s greatest pleasures. But because the female urogenital and reproductive organs are very susceptible to adhesions, intercourse can become painful, dissatisfying, and embarrassing. Many women still believe the old misconception that “there isn’t anything that can be done,” or “it’s just the way it is,” or “my mother didn’t enjoy sexual intimacy and neither did hers, therefore I won’t be able to either.”

If you are not satisfied with sexual intercourse, you are not alone. Did you know that approximately 50% of all US women and 43% of women aged 18-59 experience female sexual dysfunction (FSD) according to data from Urology and the Journal of the American Medical Association? In 2000. the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy classified female sexual dysfunction into six measurable domains: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Intercourse pain affects between 46% and 60% of all US women, according to reports in American Family Physician (2001) and Obstetrics & Gynecology (1996). Have you ever been informed that female sexual dysfunction can occur during any stage of intercourse?

Although sexual dysfunction and intercourse pain are prevalent among women, these conditions should not be considered “normal” or “untreatable.” An informative article found in Science Daily (November 16, 2006) discusses a recent study about a possible cause of sexual dysfunction in women. The study, completed by researchers of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine and The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, found that many female competitive bicyclists experienced decreased genital sensation. The researches found that external genital nerves and arteries were negatively affected by being directly compressed in women who consistently cycled an average of at least 10 miles a week, four weeks per month.

Other known causes of sexual dysfunction and intercourse pain include bladder infections, yeast infection, inflammatory disorders, sexually transmitted diseases, pelvic surgeries, physical or sexual abuse, etc.  All of these conditions can cause adhesions to form within in the reproductive tract. Adhesions can restrict and blanket the delicate structures of the reproductive system, causing decreased sensation (such as in the bicyclists) or painful intercourse.

So what can a woman do once she experiences sexual dysfunction or painful intercourse? First, she should speak with her doctor to make sure there is not a greater problem at hand, such as endometriosis or a sexually transmitted disease. If the doctor cannot find a probable cause, it is likely that adhesions are at fault.

A study published in the peer-reviewed journal Medscape General Medicine (2004) examined a sexual dysfunction treatment that directly targets adhesions within the reproductive tract. The study showed that 78% of women had increased desire (libido), 74% had increased arousal, 70% had increased lubrication, and 56% experienced increased orgasms after receiving treatment developed at Clear Passage Therapies®. For more information on this treatment, please visit our sexual dysfunction or painful intercourse page.

Surprise Orgasms Baffle Women Undergoing New Infertility Treatment

Wednesday, March 5th, 2008

GAINESVILLE, Fla., March 5, 2008 /PRNewswire/ — In a strange turn of events, women who signed up for a new, non-surgical infertility treatment started reporting unusual side-effects: increased or first-time-ever orgasms.

The therapy, which addresses reproductive tract adhesions, caused unexpected results in some patients when they returned home to their partners, according to physical therapist Belinda Wurn.

“I was dumbfounded when patients first started calling in these reports,” admits Wurn. “I wondered if it was a fluke.” But as more patients reported powerful orgasms “like they’d never had in their lives” she decided to investigate further.

“Orgasms increased in most subjects, but so did desire, arousal and lubrication,” he said. Intercourse pain decreased in all but one woman, according to a study published in Medscape General Medicine.

The study is important because sexual dysfunction affects nearly half of all US women during their lives, according to medical literature, he said. No study has shown success in so many areas of sexual dysfunction.

“I was shocked,” said a 42-year-old infertility patient. “After therapy, I began having sexual desire and responses unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life! My husband is happy — but he’s actually getting exhausted with my new-found libido!”

The non-invasive infertility treatment, developed by Clear Passage Therapies ®(CPT)  involves a protocol of manual physical therapy techniques that can be completed at any CPT clinic within one week. It does not use drugs or surgery.

The group has published medical studies and citations in journals including Fertility and Sterility and Medscape General Medicine that show improvements in fertility, pain and sexual function, after women received the new therapy. Based on patient interest, they are expanding their investigation of treating sexual dysfunction.

For interviews with physicians, therapists, or patients, contact Larry Wurn 352-336-1433 or cptherapy(at)aol.com

Painful Sex in Women: Studies Show High Prevalence, but New Hope

Tuesday, March 4th, 2008

GAINESVILLE, Fla., March 4, 2008 /PRNewswire/ — Painful sex has afflicted half the women in the US, but recent scientific studies show relief may be in sight for many women.

Two recent published studies show that a manual physical therapy that feels like a deep massage, the Wurn Technique, reduced or eliminated intercourse pain in up to 96% of the women.

The treatment uses neither drugs nor surgery. Physical therapist Belinda Wurn says, “We believe tiny adhesions form on the vaginal walls, or deep within the urogenital organs. This therapy appears to detach those adhesions strand by strand, decreasing pain and increasing function.”

American Family Physician and Obstetrics and Gynecology indicated that 46% to 60% of sexually active US women suffer, or have suffered, from painful intercourse. However, very few medical approaches address the condition.

“Until now, our medical toolbox has been extremely limited in treating intercourse pain,” said research gynecologist Richard King, MD. “Pain relievers and desensitizing agents offer a poor solution for this common and debilitating condition.”

Citations in Fertility and Sterility and Medscape General Medicine showed significantly decreased or eliminated intercourse pain for women with endometriosis and for those in the general population after they received the new therapy.

Two related studies showed that the therapy increased sexual function in several areas, including desire, arousal, lubrication, and orgasm in most study participants. In other studies, the therapy increased pregnancies in women diagnosed infertile.

Belinda and her husband, massage therapist Larry Wurn, developed the patent-protected therapy, called the Wurn Technique over the last 20 years. Initially developed to address pain Belinda experienced after pelvic cancer and surgery, the therapy can be completed in three to five days at Clear Passage Therapies ® clinics in several US locations.

Media contact: Larry Wurn 352-336-1433 or cptherapy(at)aol.com

Study Shows New Therapy Opens Blocked Fallopian Tubes, Returns Fertility Without Surgery

Monday, February 18th, 2008

GAINESVILLE, Florida, February 18, 2008/PRNewswire/ — A study published in Alternative Therapies In Health and Medicine (Feb, 2008) reports that blocked fallopian tubes can be opened without surgery, enabling infertile women to become pregnant naturally.

Authors of the study “Treating Fallopian Tube Occlusion with a Manual Pelvic Physical Therapy,” became curious after a pilot study published in Fertility and Sterility (9/06) showed the treatment returned fertility in women with blocked and swollen tubes.

The non-invasive treatment developed by Clear Passage Therapies® (CPT) involves a unique protocol of manual physical therapy techniques that can be completed at any CPT clinic in one week.

According to the study, CPT’s non-surgical treatment opened tubes in 61% of women with totally blocked fallopian tubes. Without the treatment their chances for pregnancy would have been available only through surgery or in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Of the successful participants, 53% conceived naturally after the non-surgical treatment.

“I was amazed after therapy to learn my only tube was open, and I became pregnant naturally,” said Jennifer Kennedy, a CPT patient. Before therapy, one of her tubes had been removed during emergency surgery, and her remaining tube was totally blocked and swollen. “We wanted a family, but I wanted to avoid more surgery if possible, so I tried CPT. Since therapy, we have since been blessed with three beautiful children – naturally,” said Kennedy.

According to research gynecologist and former Chief of Staff of North Florida Regional Medical Center, Richard King, M.D., “This therapy has shown remarkable results in several areas and is a natural adjunct to gynecologic care.”

Larry Wurn, Clinical Research Director, founded CPT with his wife, Belinda, a physical therapist of 30 years. In 1987, Belinda developed chronic pain after surgery for pelvic cancer. The work they developed relieved her pain. When they used it on patients, women who were diagnosed infertile began having babies naturally.

A surprising side-effect of the work was increased orgasms. Many women reported improved sexual function including increased desire and orgasm, and less intercourse pain after receiving the therapy, according to two other published medical citations (Fertility & Sterility, Medscape General Medicine).

“These initial results are very encouraging,” said the Wurns. “Many physicians are impressed that a non-surgical therapy (Wurn Technique™) can be effective treating pain or infertility.”

For interviews with physicians, therapists, or patients, contact Larry Wurn 352 336-1433 or cptherapy(at) aol.com