Let’s Talk About It: Why Painful Sex Isn’t Normal—and How Pelvic Floor PT Can Help

Valentine’s Day is all about connection, closeness, and intimacy. But for many women, intimacy comes with an unspoken reality: pain.

Pain during sex is common — but it is not normal, and it is absolutely not something you should “just live with.” Whether it’s discomfort, burning, tightness, pressure, or deep pelvic pain, painful intimacy is your body’s way of asking for support.

Millions of women experience pain during intimacy at some point in their lives. Yet many stay silent, believing it’s “just part of being a woman,” something related to stress, hormones, childbirth, or aging.

Common symptoms include:

• Pain with penetration

• Burning or stinging during sex

• Pelvic pain before or after intimacy

• Tightness or pressure in the pelvic area

• Difficulty relaxing during intimacy

These symptoms are often linked to pelvic floor dysfunction, a condition that affects women of all ages — from their 20s through menopause and beyond.

Why You Don’t Have to “Push Through” the Pain

Pain is not a rite of passage. It is not something to endure for the sake of a relationship. And it is not something you should minimize.

Ignoring painful intimacy can lead to:

• Increased muscle tension

• Heightened anxiety around sex

• Reduced desire and connection

• Worsening pelvic floor dysfunction

Addressing pelvic pain early can restore not just physical comfort — but emotional confidence and intimacy as well.

Reclaiming Pleasure, Confidence, and Connection

Healing painful intimacy isn’t just about sex. It’s about:

• Feeling at home in your body

• Trusting your body again

• Reconnecting with your partner without fear

• Experiencing pleasure without guilt or discomfort

Whether you’re newly postpartum, navigating stress, dealing with hormonal changes, or have lived with pain for years — it is never too early or too late to seek help.

Pelvic floor rehabilitation empowers women to understand their bodies, advocate for their health, and experience intimacy the way it was meant to be: connected, comfortable, and fulfilling.