Procedures

One of the more popular long-term birth control methods right now is the intrauterine device, or IUD, with its use climbing from 1.5 percent of American women in 2002 to 7.8 percent of women in 2018. Many women appreciate its hands-off nature and high efficacy rate. However, because it is inserted into the uterus, some women wonder if it could cause pain or discomfort, especially during sex.

Does having an IUD make sex feel different? Here’s everything you need to know about IUDs and painful sex.

What Is an IUD?

An IUD is a very small, T-shaped device that is inserted into a woman’s uterus with the goal of avoiding pregnancy. It may also be used in some cases to control issues such as endometriosis and abnormal uterine bleeding.

There are two types of IUDs: hormonal and nonhormonal. A hormonal IUD contains a hormone known as progestin that may suppres the ovulation process and thickens cervical mucus while thinning the uterine lining. All of these conditions make it very difficult for sperm to penetrate.

Nonhormonal IUDs are typically made of copper, which creates an inflammatory reaction in the body that prevents pregnancy.

Both methods of contraception are highly effective, with hormonal IUDs failing in just 0.4 percent of cases and nonhormonal IUDs failing in only 0.8 percent of cases.

Sexual Intercourse With an IUD

IUDs are not always effective immediately after they have been placed. If you have a hormonal IUD, you cannot depend on it for pregnancy prevention right away. Instead, the timing will depend on where you are in your cycle when it is inserted and the birth control method you are switching from. Your doctor will advise you on when to begin having sex without using a backup method after placing a hormonal IUD.

With a copper IUD, however, you can expect protection from pregnancy right away in theory, but doctors recommend using a backup birth control method during the first week to be on the safe side.

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about what to expect once you start having sex with an IUD in place.

Is Sex More Painful With an IUD?

Having sex with an IUD should not feel any different to you physically. However, your partner might notice a slight difference, with some men reporting that they can feel the strings of IUD during sex. This is not usually the case, and if it does happen, you may ask your gynecologist to adjust or trim the strings. However, they typically soften and curl up around the cervix over time.

If you are experiencing pain during sex with an IUD, it is unlikely to be related to the IUD itself. In any case, it is important to mention it to your healthcare provider, particularly if it is accompanied with light bleeding after sex as it could indicate an infection or irritation.

What Complications Can Arise From Having Sex With an IUD?

IUDs are generally considered safe, but there are some complications that may arise due to having sex while an IUD is in place. The first is the potential for an infection to occur if proper hygiene is not maintained or safe sex precautions are not followed. This is a concern for women without IUDs as well. Use of condoms with new sexual partners is recommended for patient’s with an IUD.

Another concern relates to a displaced IUD. If an IUD is not positioned properly, it could cause discomfort during sex. It may also lead to irregular bleeding or bleeding after intercourse. If you are having problems with pain or bleeding with intercourse you should contact your gynecologist to check the position of your IUD.

Can an IUD Fall Out During Sex?

Experts report that the chances of an IUD falling out during sex are very low, so there is no need to refrain from more exuberant sexual activity because of an IUD. This device is placed within the uterus, which means it is inaccessible to sex toys, fingers, and penises.

Although someone could theoretically pull the IUD strings hanging through the cervix in a manner that could cause it to dislodge, it is difficult to grab and pull the strings without the right instruments. Gynecologists use a special device known as ring forceps to clamp IUDs in the right way to remove them from the vagina. This is something that is highly unlikely to occur accidentally during sex.

Other Causes of Painful Sex

Pain during sex is not normal when you have an IUD and is always something you should mention to your healthcare provider. Although it may be due to your IUD being placed incorrectly, particularly if the pain only began once you got the IUD, it is more likely that your painful sex can be attributed to a different cause.

For example, painful sex may be related to some type of infection, such as yeast or a sexually transmitted infection. A lack of arousal and poor lubrication can also lead to painful sex, and this can typically be alleviated with more foreplay and the use of lubricants. Genital irritation or allergies from personal hygiene products, condoms, and spermicides may also lead to painful sex.

For some women, it could be due to a condition known as vaginismus, which causes the muscles around the vagina to shut tightly. The change in hormone levels associated with menopause may also make sex painful. If your pain is inside the pelvis, it could be due to an ovarian cyst, pelvic inflammatory disease, fibroids, irritable bowel syndrome, endometriosis, or constipation.

Make an Appointment With Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness

If you are experiencing painful sex or have any questions about IUDs and other types of birth control, reach out to the women’s healthcare team at Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness today.

Women’s bodies are designed to adapt to support childbirth, but not all of the changes that occur during this time are welcome. For some women, pregnancy and childbirth can leave their pelvic floor muscles either too weak or too tight, both of which can cause pain and other issues.

Here is a closer look at what happens to the pelvic floor after childbirth and how you can restore function and relieve pain in this area.

What Is The Pelvic Floor?

The pelvic floor is made up of connective tissue and muscles that support the organs found in your pelvis, such as your bladder, intestines, rectum, urethra, uterus, vagina, and cervix. These muscles are crucial for daily functions, and they also contribute to your sexual health and play a role in arousal and orgasms. In addition, they are also responsible for stabilizing your trunk and hips, particularly when you are standing or walking.

What Happens To Your Pelvic Floor In Childbirth?

It is normal for your pelvic floor muscles to stretch and weaken during pregnancy and birth. In fact, your body is designed to adapt in this way to enable the baby to pass through the vagina. However, this can cause several problems, including:

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when the pelvic organs start to descend into the vagina or push down on it due to a weak pelvic floor. It may feel like something is falling out of the vagina or is simply not in the right place. This could occur only while making certain movements, or it may be a sensation that you feel all the time. It can also cause a sense of heaviness or a dragging sensation.

Although this can be very alarming, most women can resolve it by avoiding heavy lifting, losing weight, and performing pelvic floor exercises regularly, typically under the care of a pelvic floor physical therapist.

Stress Incontinence

Although leaking urine while laughing, coughing, or sneezing can be a source of great embarrassment, it is extremely common in new moms and can usually be treated easily via pelvic floor exercises, known as Kegels. Physical therapy can help restore proper tone to the pelvic floor, allowing women to regain control over their bladder and bowel and increasing their pleasure during sex.

Frequent Urination

Some pelvic floor problems can lead to frequent urination, whether it comes in the form of a constant need to use the bathroom, frequent night awakenings to urinate, or an obsessive need to use the bathroom before leaving the house.

Incomplete emptying, or the sensation that you still need to urinate even after you have just emptied your bladder, is another common childbirth-related pelvic floor problem, as is feeling the strong need to urinate but being unable to do so.

Pelvic, Back, or Hip Pain

After childbirth, some women may feel constant or intermittent pain in their pubic bone or in the pelvic region in general. Some women will only notice pain during sexual penetration or while inserting tampons. Many times, this pain can be traced to changes in the pelvic floor after childbirth.

Although you may not make the connection immediately, pelvic floor issues related to childbirth can also lead to lower back or hip pain.

How Can Postpartum Pelvic Floor Issues Be Resolved?

Although you may have heard of women having surgery for pelvic floor issues, it may be comforting to know that these problems can often be solved with pelvic floor exercises that you can carry out on your own or under the guidance of a pelvic floor therapist.

What Does Pelvic Floor Therapy Entail?

A pelvic floor therapist will work with you to determine what could be causing your issues. You’ll be asked to describe what is wrong, and they will also make a physical assessment to get a better idea of what may be causing these problems so they can devise the best approach to correct them.

You will be given an individualized exercise program and instructed on the proper form to use for each movement. This will often include Kegels, the pelvic floor strengthening exercises, particularly if you are experiencing incontinence or prolapse. Although some women are familiar with these exercises, physical therapists have warned that many are performing them incorrectly, which can lead to further damage. Your therapist can show you the right way to perform Kegels and tell you how often you should do them at home.

They might also use approaches such as biofeedback, massage, and other exercises for posture, strength, and flexibility.

Pelvic floor physical therapy can correct many childbirth-related issues within a few months, although the precise length of treatment depends on the type and severity of the problem.

Get In Touch With The Women’s Healthcare Team

If you are concerned about any of the changes you have experienced after giving birth, make an appointment with the experienced women’s healthcare professionals at Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness today.

In the weeks and months after giving birth, many women experience postpartum pain. This can be a very challenging problem to deal with on top of the sleep deprivation and emotions that often come with taking care of a new baby. However, it is important to take some time for self-care so you can feel better physically and mentally, and pelvic floor therapy is an excellent way to get relief.

What Is Pelvic Floor Therapy?

Although the name “pelvic floor therapy” may sound intimidating, it is simply a form of physical therapy that is directed at the pelvic floor. The pelvic floor contains the group of muscles that are responsible for keeping your pelvic organs in place, such as the bladder, cervix, vagina, rectum, uterus, and urethra.

How Do Pregnancy and Childbirth Lead To Pelvic Floor Issues?

When the ligaments and muscles that surround the pelvic floor are weakened, strained, or injured, it can lead to a range of problems and pain. While injuries, obesity, and age can all contribute to pelvic floor problems, pregnancy and childbirth are a major cause of issues such as pain, discomfort, and incontinence.

When you are pregnant, your body releases relaxin, a hormone that loosens your joints and ligaments while relaxing your muscles to prepare your body for delivery. Although this is a very useful function, it can lead to excessive joint motion in the pelvis.

In addition, the muscle imbalances and posture changes experienced by your growing body during pregnancy can put pressure on this area. Vaginal deliveries, meanwhile, can cause pelvic floor tightness or muscle weakness that persists for a long time, particularly if you had a long labor.

How Does Pelvic Floor Therapy for Postpartum Pain Help?

Many women are referred to pelvic floor physical therapy after giving birth for help strengthening weakened pelvic floor muscles or assistance relaxing those that are too tight. It may release trigger points, which are areas where tissues have adhered to one another and become stuck instead of sliding easily against one another. It can improve posture and alleviate muscle imbalance.

Signs You Need Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

It is important to tell your doctor if you are experiencing the following symptoms after giving birth so they can refer you to a pelvic floor physical therapist if needed.

• Urinary or bowel incontinence
• Trouble inserting tampons
• Pressure in the pelvic area
• Pain in the area of skin between the vagina and anus
• Numbness or pain in the tailbone, vulva, pelvis, hips, spine, ribs, back, or legs
• Chronic constipation
• Hemorrhoids
• Painful urination
• Weak or tight muscles in the abdomen
• Painful postpartum sex
• Trouble getting into and out of chairs, cars, or beds

What Does Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Entail?

In pelvic floor physical therapy, you will discuss your symptoms and medical history in detail with your physical therapist, who will also perform some exams to check your posture, muscle strength, and other metrics depending on your symptoms. Once they have diagnosed the cause of the problem, they will create a treatment plan.

Some of the techniques that may be involved include:

Exercises

Your therapist will help you perform exercises that you can carry out at home to strengthen any weak muscles or relax those that are tight. You may also learn relaxation techniques, such as yoga poses and breathing exercises that can help facilitate healing.

One type of movement that may be recommended is Kegel exercises. These can serve to strengthen weakened muscles supporting your bladder, large intestine, or uterus, and they can help with incontinence. However, they are not the solution for everyone and may make some people’s symptoms worse, so only perform these moves if your physical therapist recommends them and ensure that you are doing them properly to avoid causing further damage.

Manual Therapy

Some women will need manual therapy, which involves a massage of their pelvis, thighs, buttocks, or the tissue inside the vagina to stretch the area and release any trigger points that could be causing pain. Therapists are trained to carry this out delicately, and although there might be some discomfort when they press on a particularly tight muscle, this will usually be followed by a sense of relief as the tightness eases.

Other Treatments

Depending on the condition you are treating, your therapist might use approaches such as ultrasound, cold and heat therapies, or electric stimulation. In addition, they may suggest companion treatments such as acupuncture, stress control, or cognitive behavioral therapy, all of which can be useful for those with chronic pain. Some women may also be instructed to use pelvic or lumbar support, such as belts or pillows.

Discuss Your Postpartum Pain With the Women’s Healthcare Professionals

To find out more about whether pelvic floor physical therapy can alleviate your symptoms, make an appointment to discuss your postpartum pain with the women’s healthcare team at Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness.

For people who are living with problems such as urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, or pain during intercourse, pelvic floor physical therapy is often recommended. This type of therapy can be an effective way of treating a broad range of conditions related to the pelvic floor.

If you are considering undergoing pelvic floor therapy, and you have same question ‘does pelvic floor therapy work’ then here is a look at what can make this such an effective treatment.

What Is Pelvic Floor Therapy?

First, it is important to understand what is involved in pelvic floor therapy. The pelvic floor refers to the group of muscles, tendons, connective tissue, ligaments, and nerves that form the base and support of the pelvic area. For women, it holds the bladder in the front, the vagina and rectum in the back, and the uterus at the top. Pelvic floor muscles are attached to your pubic bone at the front and your tailbone in the back.

Second, the pelvic floor plays a crucial role in controlling your bladder and bowels as it helps to hold these organs in place. It is also important in sexual health as tightened pelvic floor muscles may lead to painful intercourse.

Unfortunately, the pelvic floor is prone to a range of issues, including urinary incontinence, pain, pelvic organ prolapse, constipation, endometriosis, and other issues.

Pelvic floor physical therapy aims to correct these problems via movement and other techniques. It can be thought of as being much like the traditional physical therapy that people might undergo following an injury or accident, except it is aimed at the pelvic floor rather than an arm or knee.

Who Can Benefit From Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?

Although some of these conditions may require surgery, many people can avoid the need for an operation by turning to physical therapy. It is particularly suited to people who are not good surgical candidates as well as those who wish to avoid going under the knife.

What Is Involved in Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?

At the first appointment, your therapist will discuss your condition and your treatment goals with you and explain what your therapy will involve. This is an opportunity to talk about your medical history and address any questions and concerns.

During treatment, patients will be taught how to perform exercises, movement coordination, and manual techniques selected by the physical therapist to help them reach their individual goals. Electronic therapies may also be incorporated. For example, biofeedback uses small and painless electrodes that can help to improve bladder function and address similar issues.

One technique that is commonly used in pelvic floor therapy is Kegel exercises. These movements can help with urinary or fecal incontinence, improve the strength of the pelvic floor, and even enhance orgasms. They can also stop the bladder, uterus, or bowel from sagging into the vagina, also known as prolapse.

Many women are familiar with Kegels, but physical therapists report that most patients perform them incorrectly. For example, many women have a tendency to squeeze too hard or hold their breath during Kegels. Pelvic floor therapists will help women learn how to perform this important exercise properly and recommend an appropriate schedule for practicing at home to aid progress.

While much of the time spent in pelvic floor therapy will be devoted to exercises and movements, it is important to note that the therapist may need to perform an internal exam from time to time. However, this will always be carried out in a way that prioritizes the patient’s comfort. If a patient is not comfortable with this exam, the exam will does not have to be performed.

How Long Does Pelvic Floor Therapy Take to Work?

The precise length of treatment needed to see results depends on the patient, their condition, the severity of the problem, and their goals. However, one visit per week across a period of eight weeks is a typical course of pelvic floor therapy. This type of therapy will usually continue for as long as it takes for you to restore your ideal level of function.

After finishing pelvic floor therapy in a clinical setting, you will likely be prescribed a home exercise program that is tailored to your condition and the physical activities you enjoy, such as walking, swimming, or biking.

What Are Some of the Potential Results of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?

After completing a recommended course of pelvic floor therapy, most women will notice significant improvements in the problems that led them to therapy in the first place. This may also mean being able to return to a favorite sport, enjoy sex, start a family, or make it through their day without incontinence.

Reach out to the Women’s Healthcare Team at Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness

At Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness, we have a highly trained team of physicians and nurses who can help women of all ages manage various gynecological problems in a comfortable and caring environment. Call us today to set up an appointment and discuss your concerns.