What we know about orgasms?
So much of what we expect and know about female sexuality is highly influenced by the porn industry, and until just recently when 50 shades of grey hit the shelves, women were reluctant to even approach the taboo subject. It should be no surprise that pornography, geared mostly towards men, is not a true representation of the female sexual process. Going from zero to climax in no time flat is just not how it happens for us ladies. In fact, many women know very little about their arousal process and are typically unaware of just how many health benefits a good sex life has!
Did you know that spending more time in the orgasmic plateau phase could have a positive impact on your overall health?…Yup, that’s right! Benefits include improved menstrual cycles, fertility, ovulation regulation and even your immunity. An increase in your “love” hormones through your body during this phase can also help to reduce inflammation, improve circulation, improve sleep and protect cardiovascular health. In addition, improved sexual function can enhance a woman’s overall well-being, quality of life, and self-esteem.
Sexual Dysfunction and Dyspareunia.
Lets face it we live in a very hypersexualized culture – so if you’re a woman who is suffering from sexual dysfunction or pain with intercourse (dyspareunia), you may experience feelings of shame, inadequately, embarrassment and in many cases suffer in silence. Ok – so we’re going to get a little wordy and medical here for just a bit – bare with me. I think it’s important to inform you of some important details just so you can better understand causes, treatment options and appreciation that you’re not alone in all this!
Many women have painful intercourse at some point in their lives; dyspareunia is far more common then you might think and affects women of all ages. In the thesis I conducted in 2015 on Osteopathy and Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), 39% of the participants reported pain during intercourse. Recent investigations have even found the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (40%) to be higher then males (30%). However, despite the higher prevalence, there have been few investigatory studies of female sexual dysfunction and even fewer available treatments when compared to male conditions. Not only that but the pathophysiology of female sexual dysfunction is far more complex than that of males, it often involves a number of factors; including, multidimensional hormonal neurological, vascular, psychological, and interpersonal aspects.
Female sexual disorders may include a wide variety of vascular, neural, or neurovascular factors that lead to problems with pain, libido, lubrication, and orgasm. Sexual dysfunction can occur for a number reasons, ranging from structural issues, to emotional and psychological factors.
Painful sex has been strongly linked to other sexual issues, including:
• Vaginal dryness
• Pathological conditions due to childbirth
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Congestion or Infections
• Vulvodynia (chronic pain that affects the labial area)
• Vaginismus (involuntary clenching of the vaginal muscles)
• Pelvic floor tightness or dysfunction
• Gynaecological pathology, such as, endometriosis or fibroids
• Dysfunctions of the uterus position/mobility causing ligamentous tensions
• Dysfunctions of the fallopian tubes and/or ovaries position/mobility
• Postoperative scarring or pelvic adhesions (tears in the pelvic floor or episiotomy)
• Cystitis or Urethral disorders
• Vaginitis or Vaginal atrophy
• Feeling anxious during sex
• Lack of sexual enjoyment
• Trauma or related emotional distress
Women often don’t seek treatment for these conditions, they learn to live with their pain/condition or avoid having sex altogether. It shouldn’t have to be that way and I’m happy to report there are non-invasive treatments out there that can help!
The 2 “O’s” – Osteopathy and Orgasm.
Since there could be a number of contributors to sexual dysfunction a multidisciplinary approach may be needed. If you suffer from pain during or after sex you should consult your doctor, gynaecologist or sexual health clinic. If there is an emotional reason or anxiety contributing to the issue(s) – a counsellor or sex therapist may be able to help. Feeling good about yourself, being present in your body and the ability to ‘let go’ are crucial to enjoyment and performance.
Alternative and holistic therapies, such as acupuncture, may also be successful in enhancing sexual energy, minimizing stress and balancing hormones. In addition, pelvic floor specialist have a board understanding of anatomical and nervous system influences that may be contributing to the sexual dysfunction.
Mechanical influences can have a large impact on sexual dysfunction and Osteopathic manual therapy can help! Tissue adhesion is a common occurrence after infections, inflammation, surgery, childbirth or trauma. This scar/fibrous tissue will lock down the fascial and ligamentous elements, as well as, the boney and visceral components of the pelvic. This leads to anatomical distortion, reduced mobility, altered pelvic biomechanics and subsequent dysfunction and pain. Your Osteopathic Manual Practitioner can use soft-tissue mobilization, myofascial release, muscle energy techniques, strengthening and stabilizing exercises to release adhesions, improve tissue quality and restore visceral position and mobility, thus releasing pain.
In a 2004 study done by Wurn, Wurn and Roscow they not only found that a manual therapy approach was successful in increasing orgasm and decreasing dyspareunia – but they also found that the therapeutic approach had equally significant improvements on all other domains of this complex dysfunction, including desire, arousal, lubrication, and satisfaction. Osteopathic Manual Therapy can help restore blood flow, improve neurological dysfunction and balance all those good “love” hormones and synchronize your entire body!
Getting your groove back.
Ok, now that we have the medical and treatment part out of the way here’s the good stuff…a few tips on how to live your best sex life!
1. All day foreplay! Ok maybe not literally but close. Remember that whole zero – climax part of your orgasm…well you’d never expect yourself to go from doing nothing on the couch for month to running a 10km race! The preparation and training is what leads to a strong and successful race – same as how arousal time before intercourse and more time spent in the orgasmic plateau phase will get you sensitively primed and ready to go! Not to mention the added health benefits. Expand your definition of foreplay and be creative, it doesn’t have to be just before sex but rather throughout the day…his, could be as easy as a “sext” message over your mid-morning coffee.
2. Get a healthy dose! Experts will agree that there is no perfect number but a 2004 study suggested that having sex once or twice a week leads to a stronger immune system. Better then a flu shot or immune boosting IV if you ask me!
3. Lets talk about sex – baby!…Especially when if comes to sexual dysfunction and dyspareunia. It can be complicated and difficult – involving feelings of embarrassment, shame and sometimes maybe even blame. Keep an open dialogue and communication about sex, that in itself can reduce the likelihood of a low libido. A safe, comfortable and trusting environment is the “key”!
4. Get limber and be active! Among many things…being active improves body confidence, reduces stress, releases endorphins and even some of those yoga poses will help to open your hips – increasing blood flow to the pelvic region and supercharging your orgasms.
There you have it! Despite its prevalence, painful sex is still a topic that receives little recognition and conversational airtime. It’s an incredibly important topic that we need to continue breaking down stigmas and judgement, opening up the dialogue. It’s incredibly common and you are not alone. So just in time for Valentine’s Day get out there – make the call and have your Osteopathic Manual Practitioner help you elevate your sex life!