Dear Ann Landers: I am writing in response to the letter signed “Hate Sex in Washington State.” She said intercourse was painful. This medical condition is called dyspareunia and can be caused by many conditions, both physical and emotional.
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You were right to recommend AASECT (American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists). Counseling and medical treatment together can be extremely helpful.
One of the possible physical causes of dyspareunia is a spasm of the pelvic floor muscle. As a physical therapist, I specialize in the treatment of this muscle dysfunction and help women learn to relax and contract the muscle in an appropriate manner.
Please tell your readers to ask their doctors for a referral or call the American Physical Therapy Association at 1-800-999-2782 (www.apta.org). — Elizabeth Shelly, physical therapist, Moline, Ill.
Dear Elizabeth Shelly: You were not the only reader to suggest physical therapy as a means of overcoming painful intercourse. I was amazed at the number of women who wrote to offer their suggestions. Read on for more:
From Springfield, Ill.: I, too, suffered from painful sex. Several doctors told me the problem was my inability to relax, but the real culprit turned out to be a low-grade yeast infection.
Baton Rouge, La.: My gynecologist finally diagnosed me with interstitial cystitis, which is a chronic inflammation of the bladder. Please tell “Hate Sex” she might have this problem.
Danbury, Conn.: Painful sex can be the result of a torn muscle after childbirth. That is what happened to me after my last baby was born.
Atlanta: Please tell “Hate Sex” that she may have endometriosis, a chronic disease that can cause excruciating pain during sex. Without treatment, this disease can make a woman infertile or worse. I was lucky. My doctor found it early.
Rochester, N.Y.: Tell “Hate Sex” that she might have vulvodynia. She can contact the National Vulvodynia Association at www.nva.org for more information.
San Bernardino, Calif.: After suffering with this condition for almost 18 years, my doctor finally checked my testosterone level and discovered it was way below normal. He gave me a cream that has made all the difference in the world.
Saltsburg, Pa.: Please tell that poor woman to have her gynecologist check her for vulvar vestibulitis. It’s a condition where glands become inflamed.
Sacramento, Calif.: I, too, had pain during sex for years. I had a lot of tests and various diagnoses, but nothing helped. I finally located a Web site that suggested oxalic acid may be the problem. It recommended that I take 1,000 mg of calcium citrate a day and cut out all food with oxalic acid. Within a week, I noticed a lessening of the symptoms. Three months later, I am almost pain-free.
Graham, N.C.: The Vulvar Pain Foundation coordinates scientific research, testing, education, personal support and public outreach for a connective tissue disorder frequently characterized by painful sex. Safe treatment has been developed that is effective for many women. Please tell your readers to contact us at www.vulvarpainfoundation.org.
Dear Readers: Thank you for your invaluable assistance and your concern. However, before trying any of these remedies, my female readers should talk to their gynecologists. Take this column with you to your next appointment, and ask if any of these conditions apply to you. Good luck.
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Drugs are everywhere. They’re easy to get, easy to use and even easier to get hooked on. If you have questions about drugs, you need Ann Landers’ booklet “The Lowdown on Dope.” Send a self-addressed, long, business-size envelope and a check or money order for $5 (this includes postage and handling) to: Lowdown, c/o Ann Landers, P.O. Box 11562, Chicago, IL 60611-0562. (In Canada, send $6.) To find out more about Ann Landers and read her past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.