What is the nature of Pelvic Floor Muscle Involvement in Dyspareunia?

Many women experience pain during sexual activities. This is known as dyspareunia.  This pain, while not well understood by health care providers, can interfere with women’s physical and mental health, and be a source of stress in romantic relationships.

The pelvic floor muscles, located at the base of the pelvis, appear to be involved in pain experienced by women during both sexual and non-sexual activities, such as during tampon insertion or PAP tests. Yet how the pelvic floor muscles are involved is not well understood. Through this study we are investigating the differences in how the pelvic floor muscles function and how they respond to touch and pressure felt at the vulva between women who do and who do not experience vulvar pain during sexual and non–sexual activities, as well as possible central (brain) sensitization to this pain. It is expected that the results of this research will help to develop new approaches to help women overcome vulvar pain experienced in these contexts.

We are looking for women over 18 years of age, with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD), which is one form of dyspareunia where pain is experienced when touch or pressure is applied to the vulva. We are also looking for women without any history of dyspareunia (difficult or painful sexual intercourse) to serve as a comparison group.