Goodbye to Unwanted Painful Sex with Expert Physical Therapy Services
Pain with Sex Treatment in Oakland, CA
You deserve to experience pain-free penetration and pleasurable sex.
If sex hurts, feels like “hitting a wall,” causes deep pelvic pain, burning, or cramping after orgasm—you are not broken, and this is treatable.
Pelvic floor physical therapy can help.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy for Pain With Sex
Pelvic floor physical therapy treatment for pain with sex is highly effective for many people. Research consistently shows improvements in pain intensity, function, and quality of life for individuals experiencing pain during penetrative sex.
One of the most important aspects of treatment is learning how to both relax the pelvic floor muscles and coordinate the relaxation with breathing during movement.
Treatment may include:
Pelvic floor muscle coordination and relaxation training
Core muscle strengthening (when appropriate)
Manual trigger point release and myofascial pelvic floor therapy
Nervous system–supported care to reduce guarding from fear and pain
These approaches help reduce deep pain during sex, sharp pain with penetration, and symptoms like burning during or after sex.
(Effectiveness of Physical Therapy Interventions In Women with Dyspareunia: Systematic Review & Meta-analysis, 2023)
Painful Penetrative Sex Is Treatable
Painful intercourse is common—and help exists.
We work with people who experience:
Deep pain during sex
Pain on sexual intercourse
Sex feels like “he’s hitting something”
Sharp pain during sex
Burning sensation during and after sex
Severe cramping after sex
Pelvic pain after orgasm
Uterus pain or cramps during orgasm
Pain before, during, or after erection or ejaculation
If you’ve asked yourself:
Why does sex hurt?
Is pain during sex normal?
Why does it burn when I pee after sex?
You’re not alone—and these symptoms often have treatable pelvic floor, nervous system, or musculoskeletal causes.
Common Contributors to Pain During Sex
Pain with sex is not “just in your head.” Common contributors include:
Tight or Overactive Pelvic Floor Muscles
This can cause:
Primary or secondary vaginismus
Deep sex hurts
Burning after intercourse
Painful orgasm, pain during or after ejaculation
Treatment may include:
Pelvic floor relaxation exercises
Breathing and down-training techniques
Dilators for dyspareunia or vulvodynia
Biofeedback for vaginismus
Hip, Core, and Pelvic Mobility Restrictions
These can contribute to:
Deep pain during intercourse
Pelvic pain after sex
Painful orgasm or cramps after orgasm
Care may involve:
Hip stabilization and mobilization
Dynamic posture and movement training
Core support that doesn’t increase pelvic tension
Fear, Guarding, and Anticipatory Pain
When sex has hurt before, the body often protects itself.
We support this with:
Trauma-informed coaching
Gradual, consent-based exposure to penetration
Resources for comfort, nervous system pacing for cues of safety
As pain decreases, fear often lessens naturally.
Burning When You Pee After Sex or Vaginal Irritation After Sex
Burning with urination after sex—without infection—can be related to:
Pelvic floor muscle tension
Urethral irritation from guarding
Nervous system sensitization
We regularly work with:
Burning when peeing after sex
Vaginal irritation after sex
Burning sensation after intercourse
How We Work Together
We move at a pace your body can yield to.
We hold space for:
Breathing
Softening
Learning what your body is communicating
Internal work should feel easy for you—we help your body feel safe enough that you are no longer afraid of pain because nothing is wrong with you.