From Pain to Pleasure: How Pelvic Floor PT Can Transform Your Sex Life
- Melissa Sundberg
- Jun 23
- 3 min read
At AK Pelvic Health & Wellness, we often meet patients who have spent years feeling frustrated, confused, or even hopeless about their sexual health.
Whether it's painful sex, difficulty with arousal, decreased sensation, or intimacy issues that feel too tangled to name—many people don't realize that pelvic floor physical therapy can be a crucial piece of the puzzle.
Sexual wellness is about more than just physical function. It's emotional, relational, and deeply personal. That’s why our approach always centers on understanding the whole person—not just the symptoms.
The Connection Between Pelvic Health and Sexual Function
The pelvic floor muscles play a major role in sexual activity.
These muscles support the organs involved in arousal and orgasm, contribute to sensation, and allow for pain-free penetration.
When they’re too tight, weak, uncoordinated, or holding onto tension from past experiences or trauma, they can disrupt both comfort and pleasure.
Common reasons people seek pelvic floor PT for sexual health concerns include:
Pain during or after sex (dyspareunia)
Vaginal tightness or pelvic floor hypertonicity
Difficulty achieving orgasm
Erectile dysfunction or pelvic pain in men
Vaginismus or fear/avoidance of intimacy
Changes in sensation after childbirth, menopause, or surgery
And here’s the most important part: these symptoms are treatable. ✨
A Patient’s Journey: From Painful Sex to Healing and Connection
We’re honored to share this testimonial from a past patient—an example of how pelvic floor physical therapy can be a powerful first step in a much deeper healing journey:
"I just wanted to let you know about the profound impact you have made on my health journey & life. I had been seeing you for a handful of sessions related to painful sex and other intimacy issues. You were compassionate and thorough, as well as direct in your observations and assessments. Without your guidance I don’t know that I would have pursued addressing my mental health and kept looking to just solve the side effects instead of the root issue. Now that I am working on my mental health, my relationship with my husband and our intimacy issues are getting easier to address. And now, 2 years later I am finding that I am in a place where I can start really using the information I got from you and the resources you provided! So thank you for guiding me down the right path!I am extremely grateful to have worked with you!"~SF
This story speaks to what we hope everyone feels when they walk through our doors: supported, seen, and guided toward the root causes—not just temporary fixes.
➡️ What Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help You With
In pelvic PT, we assess and treat:
Muscle tension or weakness in the pelvic floor
Breathing patterns and core-pelvic coordination
Scar tissue mobility (from C-sections, tears, or surgeries)
Postural contributors to pain or discomfort
Emotional patterns that might be reflected in the body
We also collaborate—when appropriate—with mental health providers, sex therapists, or medical providers to ensure you have a team that supports your full healing.
Sexual wellness is not a luxury. It's a fundamental part of your health and quality of life. ❤️
You Deserve Pleasure Without Pain
If you're experiencing painful sex, difficulty with arousal or orgasm, or changes in your relationship that feel connected to your body—you're not alone. And there is help.
Pelvic floor physical therapy offers a gentle, empowering, and evidence-based approach to healing. Whether you’re postpartum, post-menopausal, or have been struggling in silence for years—there is a path forward.
Curious if pelvic PT could help you??