Maria, 31 years old, physiotherapist
“I would like to tell women who experience pain during penetration during sexual intercourse that it is not psychological. Behind their pain there is a pathological cause, and the longer this cause remains unidentified and the pain is not attributed to it, the deeper their trauma becomes – both physically and emotionally.”
The onset of the problem
Maria experienced intense pain during penetration during sexual intercourse. She felt it from the very first time she became sexually active. She also experienced pain even when inserting a tampon during menstruation. At times, the pain was unbearable and affected not only her ability to enjoy intimacy, but also the continuation of her relationship, since her partner at the time could neither understand nor fully accept her pain. She consulted several gynecologists, who almost unanimously attributed the pain to “psychological” causes, until she finally met a gynecologist who told her that she was “not crazy” and that what she was experiencing was due to pelvic floor dysfunction.
Recognition of the Problem and Temporary Improvement
For a period of time, Maria followed the treatment proposed by the gynecologist, which involved the use of vaginal dilators. At regular intervals, she also visited his office for “palpation” exercises and dilator therapy. However, these procedures caused her unbearable pain, which the gynecologist did not consider an obstacle to recovery. Typically, whenever she expressed pain, the doctor would respond by saying, “It doesn’t matter.” Although the diagnosis and the exercises initially brought her some relief and slight improvement, this did not last long. Very soon, she found herself once again performing the exercises in severe pain, and the very idea of recovery began to provoke the same terror and despair she felt during penetration itself. When the doctor eventually informed her that, in his opinion, the rehabilitation had been completed and that anatomically she was “fine,” despite the fact that she continued to experience significant pain, Maria decided to seek another solution through a physiotherapy approach – perhaps influenced by her own professional background as a physiotherapist. She had heard about PT PRAXIS and decided to seek a second opinion there, one and a half years after beginning “treatment” with the gynecologist, and two years after the onset of her symptoms.
Maria’s Experience at PT PRAXIS
“At PT PRAXIS, the approach was completely different. The people there listened to me carefully and with understanding, and for the first time I felt that someone truly understood me. They were also extremely reassuring. It was the first time in almost two years that I went somewhere for treatment without my heart trembling from fear about what I would experience during the process. At PT PRAXIS, they explained to me that the dilators used by the gynecologist were not appropriate for the rehabilitation of sexual dysfunction. There are many different types of dilators made from various materials, and not all are suitable for every case. They also informed me that the rehabilitation program I needed should not involve pain or tension during treatment. What was especially important for me to understand was that it is not the dilators themselves that stretch the vaginal entrance and depth to resolve the problem. Rather, it is I myself who am learning to relax ‘onto’ the dilators.During the time I have been attending PT PRAXIS, I feel that I can finally allow myself to be touched and examined. I can now participate in the rehabilitation process. I do the necessary exercises every day, and I visit the physiotherapy center every 10 to 15 days so they can monitor my progress and gradually add new elements to the therapeutic process. I still have a long way to go, but you cannot imagine how optimistic I feel now that I understand how my condition can be treated, that I am no longer terrified of the process, and that I finally believe that what I have can truly be restored.”
