Relieve Intercourse Pain (Dyspareunia) Naturally- Proven Results

Studies estimate that up to half of all US women have had problems with painful intercourse (dyspareunia). Pleasure-filled relations are a natural part of life. But when areas of the vagina or pelvis become adhered due to earlier healing events (e.g., falls, surgeries, infections, abuse) intercourse pain can occur, instead of pleasure. Clear Passage Physical Therapy^SM has over two decades of experience treating painful sexual intercourse. Studies and citations published in some of the most respected US medical journals found that this therapy decreased intercourse pain and increased every aspect of female sexual function naturally, without surgery or drugs.

Painful sexual intercourse is a condition that plagues millions of women worldwide. For some, the pain may occur at first penetration. This is often a very sharp and specific pain in one location, often at or near the opening of the vagina. For others, the pain is experienced at deep penetration. This is often described as a broader, deeper pain, and has been described as if “it feels like my partner is hitting something” and in many cases, he is (see below). Some women may even experience a combination of the two.

Painful intercourse can be totally debilitating. Complaints range from pain at initial penetration, to pain at deep penetration, to a combination of the two. While physicians may give varying primary or accompanying diagnoses, or refer patients for psychological counseling, our clinical experience has shown us that most intercourse pain is of "mechanical" cause. We feel that telling a patient “it’s all in your head” is not only inaccurate, it is totally disempowering.

Due to studies published from our patient base, it is becoming increasingly clear that intercourse pain often comes from pressure exerted by the partner on adhesions within the vaginal wall or nearby structures, during intercourse.

These adhesions may be due to a prior infection, inflammation, surgery, or trauma. For example, typical predecessors to intercourse pain we frequently treat are:

• Trauma to coccyx or pubic bones, often from a fall or sports (e.g. cheerleading, skating, horseback riding, or bicycle injury)
• Bladder or vaginal infection or inflammation
• Physical or sexual abuse, intercourse when not fully lubricated
• Surgery (e.g. abortion, episiotomy, female circumcision, or early reconstructive surgery)
• Vaginal spasm from vaginismus

The female reproductive tract may be subjected to numerous traumas, infections, inflammations, and surgeries over life. Any of these can lead to adhesions and scar tissue at the entrance, or deep within the vagina.

Some women absorb repetitive traumas and stresses to the pelvis without experiencing symptoms or negative side effects. However, some women experience significant, long lasting symptoms including anorgasmia (the inability to have an orgasm or reach a full orgasm), decreased desire (libido) and painful intercourse (dyspareunia). Adhesion formation is totally dependent on how and where the body heals from these conditions.

Painful sexual intercourse plagues millions of women worldwide. According to a report from American Family Physician (2001),¹ 60% of all US women experience or have experienced painful intercourse.

For some women, the pain may occur at first penetration. This is generally reported as a very sharp and specific pain at or near the opening of the vagina. For others, the pain is experienced at deep penetration. This may be a broader, deeper pain, sometimes described as if “it feels like my partner is hitting something.” The fact is that in many cases he is (further discussed below). Many women we treat experience a combination of the two.

Surgery or a fall can push your tailbone forward, creating a physical block in your body. This can cause pain during intercourse, and may also cause chronic constipation, difficulty sitting for long periods, and headaches at the temples, frontal bone, top of head, or base of the skull (from the pull of the strong spinal cord covering, that starts at the coccyx.)

In cases of pain or tightness at the opening , we find that adhesions, tiny or large, have formed in the area at some time in the past. As the body heals from infection, inflammation, surgery, or trauma, it develops tiny adhesions, which are often invisible to the naked eye. These adhesions can form on the surface of the labia, at the vaginal opening, or within its delicate inner tissues.

Adhesions form in a random pattern. They can create a blanket of glue-like bonds on or within the surface of the labia, or deep within the tissues. These adhered tissues can be stretched at the commencement of intercourse, creating a pull on nerves and other sensitive structures. This pull causes pain at just the time when you should be experiencing great pleasure. The irritation can cause pelvic spasms, which in turn causes more pain and dysfunction, perpetuating the process.

Pain at deeper penetration is often associated with a trauma or repetitive stress to the tailbone (coccyx), generally caused by a fall on the hip, back, or tailbone. Other causes may include pelvic surgery (such as an appendectomy or D&C), inflammation (such as endometriosis), or infection (bladder, yeast, etc.). Abuse and repetitive stresses (such as sitting for long periods of time) are other common causes of this pain.

When any of these occur, internal tissues may shorten, pulling the tailbone out of its normal position. The tailbone then acts as a physical block to your partner during intercourse, causing you to experience a deep pain during or after sex.

Similar conditions can occur at the cervix, or other vaginal tissues. As seen in this illustration, tiny rope-like adhesions can form between the muscle cells, deep within the cervix. Thus, when the cervix is contacted by the repeated thrusts of a partner, deep pain is often the unwanted consequence of intercourse.

Intercourse should be a time of great pleasure. Because the female reproductive organs are susceptible to adhesions and tailbone trauma over time, intercourse can become a time of pain and embarrassment. Our therapists have decreased pain, increased sexual function, and restored the pleasures of intimacy and intercourse for most of the women we treat with pain or dysfunction (per published studies). In doing so, we enrich their lives and those of their partners.

Success rates

Patients generally respond quickly to our unique, non-surgical hands-on physical therapy treatment for painful intercourse. We are the only therapists we know of who have treated this condition enough to publish studies.

Our first sexual function study was published in the respected peer-reviewed medical journal, Medscape General Medicine (2004).² Those published results have been among our highest success rates for any condition. We decreased or eliminated intercourse pain in 96% of the women we treated.

Subsequent published study findings published in Fertility and Sterility (2006)³ investigated the decrease of painful intercourse in women with endometriosis. These investigations produced similar numbers, as shown in the graph on the right.

In addition to eliminating painful sexual intercourse, our therapy also significantly increased orgasm and sexual function in our sexual function study participants as follows:

56% reported increased intensity and duration of orgasm

78% reported increased desire (libido)

74% reported increased arousal

70% reported increased lubrication

65% reported increased satisfaction

91% reported improved overall sexual function

Please visit our success rates page for more information.

1. Heim LJ. Evaluation and differential diagnosis of dyspareunia. Am Fam Physician. 2001;63:1535-1544. PMID 11327429.
2. Wurn BF, Wurn LJ, King CR, Heuer MA, Roscow AS, Scharf ES, Shuster JJ.  Treating Female Infertility and Improving IVF Pregnancy Rates with a Manual Physical Therapy Technique. Med Gen Med. 2004 Jun 18; 6(2): 51. PMID 15266276.
3. Wurn LJ, Wurn BF, King CR, Roscow AS, Scharf ES, Shuster JJ.  Improving sexual function in patients with endometriosis via a pelvic physical therapy. Fertil Steril. 2006; 86 (Supp 2): S29-30. Abstract.

Doctors comment on the Wurn Technique®
and the book Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain

"The Wurn Technique® is a breakthrough for physicians and women who have known for so long that there was something better out there for treatment of infertility, painful intercourse, sexual dysfunction, endometriosis, and chronic pain."

Dr. Scott Miles, Gynecologist, Medical Director
Miles Ahead Health and Wellness, Indianapolis, IN

"The Wurn Technique® is remarkable; it is the only therapy shown to improve all phases of female sexual function, including arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction. Amazingly, it does this without the side effects and multiple risks of surgery or drugs."

Dr. John D. Perry, Psychologist
Author of “The G Spot”

"Their studies show improvement in desire, arousal/lubrication, orgasm/satisfaction and pain. I know of no other single therapy reported to increase all areas of sexual function. I am truly excited to learn about the Wurn Technique®"

Dr. Scott Miles, Gynecologist, Medical Director
Miles Ahead Health and Wellness, Indianapolis, IN