Chinese medicine for Dyspareunia at Kampo Health Toronto

Dyspareunia is defined by genital pain that can be experienced before, during, or after intercourse. Primary dyspareunia pain starts at the beginning of sexual intercourse, while in secondary dyspareunia, pain begins after some time of pain-free sexual activity. Dyspareunia is sometimes intermixed with vulvodynia, a genital pain that lasts more than three months with or without the association of sexual intercourse.

At Kampo Health Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Clinic in Toronto, Canada, we provide a gentle, safe, and effective alternative solution for people who suffer from dyspareunia.

What is in this post:

• What is dyspareunia and what are the causes?

• Treatments of dyspareunia and their pros and cons

• Why and how Chinese medicine can help your dyspareunia?

• What to expect during the visit at Kamp Health?

What is dyspareunia and what are the causes?

Pain during intercourse, also known as dyspareunia, can have a variety of causes, including:

• Vaginal infections: Infections such as yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis can cause pain during intercourse.
• Vaginismus: Vaginismus is a condition in which the muscles of the vagina involuntarily contract, making penetration painful or impossible.
• Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue that lines the uterus grows in other types of tissues, causing pain during intercourse.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): PID is an infection of the reproductive organs that can cause pain during intercourse.
• Vulvodynia: Vulvodynia is a condition in which the vulva (external female genitalia) is in pain, burning, or itching, even without sexual activity.
• Lack of lubrication: Insufficient lubrication can cause friction and irritation, which can result in pain during intercourse.
• Menopause: Menopause can cause a decrease in estrogen, which can lead to vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse.

It’s important to see a healthcare provider to identify the cause of your pain during intercourse and determine the appropriate treatment.

Treatments of dyspareunia and their pros and cons

Dyspareunia is a medical condition characterized by pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse. It can be caused by various factors such as vaginal dryness, infections, endometriosis, vulvodynia, or trauma. Here are some common treatments for dyspareunia:

• Hormonal therapy: In some cases, hormonal imbalances can cause vaginal dryness. Hormonal therapy, such as estrogen replacement therapy or birth control pills, can help restore hormonal balance and reduce symptoms.
• Medications: Pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can help reduce pain during sexual intercourse. If the dyspareunia is caused by an underlying medical condition such as an infection, antibiotics may be prescribed.
• Physical therapy: Pelvic floor therapy can help relax and strengthen the muscles in the pelvic floor, which can reduce pain during sexual intercourse.
• Psychotherapy: Dyspareunia can cause emotional distress and anxiety, which can further exacerbate the symptoms. Psychotherapy can help address the underlying psychological factors and improve sexual function.
• Surgery: In rare cases, surgery may be recommended to address underlying conditions such as endometriosis or fibroids that are causing dyspareunia.

It’s essential to speak with your physician about your concerns as most treatments have side effects, such as pain, hormonal imbalance, irreversible tissue damage, liver and kidney diseases, etc. Another short side of each of these specialized treatments is that they can only address one particular problem, such as muscle tension, psychological stress, and inflammation separately.

Why and how Chinese medicine can help your dyspareunia?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) looks at the body as a whole, and its treatment is holistic and very gentle in nature. It is very possible to simultaneously address multiple underlying causes of dyspareunia such as Pelvic Inflammation, hormonal imbalance, muscle tension, and anxiety/PTSD through Chinese medicine. TCM practitioners are known for the holistic approach that can cohesively address multiple factors through modalities such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion.

Chinese medicine is also effective, gentle, and safe. We use painless acupuncture techniques to relax the nervous system and muscles by inserting the hair-thin needles into points that are at a distance from the pelvic region, such as the back, arms, and legs. There is no need for embarrassing and painful moments. This is the art of acupuncture that addresses the problems without even getting near the area of concern.

Using herbs in Chinese medicine is another powerful form of healing art used to relax the body from the inside with personalized Kampo formulas. These formulas not only address the direct organs and tissues, but they also control inflammation and restore the balance to your hormones, autonomic nervous system, and even digestive system. In TCM, these systems are all connected to reproductive health

What to expect during the visit at Kamp Health?

During your first visit with our Chinese medicine practitioner, we will discuss the history of your overall health, specific signs, and symptoms related to your concerns, in order to uncover the underlying issues. From there, we can discuss the treatment plan according to your individual needs and level of comfort. We may also suggest some meditation and breathing techniques to help release the tension and anxiety.

We also look into your diet and lifestyle to make constructive advice to improve your general health and well-being.

We do not perform pelvic examinations which can be done by your OB-GYN doctors. We do a type of abdominal palpation called “Fukushin” to determine the internal issues and imbalances. It is a gentle palpation on the top of the abdomen, patients will be fully clothed during the procedure. Any medical examination results can be helpful to identify the underlying issues.

Chinese medicine believes in body-mind connection and they cannot be separated. There are herbs and acupuncture points that can effectively influence our state of mind. Therefore, many psychological issues can be improved by Chinese medicine. There is extensive scientific evidence that has shown the connection between our digestive system and brain as an example that treating the physical body can affect our mental health. This principle has been applied in Chinese medicine for thousands of years.

If your quality of life and well-being has been impacted by this painful and uncomfortable condition, we can help you with our gentle and integrated treatment. Contact us today or book your first visit to discuss your concern and how we can help you.