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Intimacy in Bloom: Enhancing Pregnancy Sexual Health with Pelvic Floor Therapy


While most of us expect things like back pain, nausea, and fluctuating moods during pregnancy, many don’t realize the impact pregnancy can have on intimacy and sexual health. Between hormonal shifts and the growing demands on the body, maintaining a healthy, intimate relationship can feel challenging. But with the right tools, including pelvic floor therapy, it’s entirely possible to stay connected with your partner during this transformative time.


The Role of the Pelvic Floor in Sexual Health

Your pelvic floor plays a central role in sexual function. It supports your reproductive organs and controls the muscles involved in sexual activity. During pregnancy, the increased weight of the baby, along with hormonal changes, can lead to tightness, discomfort, or weakness in the pelvic floor. These changes can result in pain during intercourse, reduced sensation, or even anxiety about intimacy.

Pelvic floor therapy helps address these issues by focusing on strengthening, relaxing, and retraining the pelvic muscles. Through targeted exercises, breathing techniques, and manual therapy, pelvic floor therapists help ensure that the muscles remain strong, flexible, and able to support both your pregnancy and your sexual health.


How Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help

Pelvic floor therapy during pregnancy focuses on three key areas:

  1. Strengthening the Muscles: As your baby grows, the increased pressure on your pelvic floor can lead to weakness, which may result in discomfort during sex or even urinary incontinence. Strengthening these muscles through specific exercises can help maintain their tone and support, allowing for a more comfortable intimate experience.

  2. Relaxing and Releasing Tension: For some, pregnancy can lead to tight pelvic muscles, which may cause pain during intercourse. Pelvic floor therapy focuses on relaxation techniques to help release tension, improve blood flow, and reduce discomfort, making intimacy more pleasurable.

  3. Mindfulness and Breathing: Mind-body techniques, such as deep breathing and mindfulness, can be incorporated into pelvic floor therapy to help you stay relaxed and reduce anxiety about intimacy. These techniques also support emotional connection with your partner, making intimacy feel more comfortable and less stressful.


Maintaining Intimacy During Pregnancy

While physical changes are inevitable, they don’t have to mean the end of intimacy. Open communication with your partner is essential in maintaining a healthy relationship during pregnancy. Discuss any discomfort or concerns and explore new ways to be intimate that don’t necessarily focus on intercourse, such as massage, cuddling, or other forms of physical affection.

It’s also important to understand that intimacy and sexual health during pregnancy are highly individual. For some, desire may increase due to hormonal shifts, while others may experience a decrease. Both are completely normal. By paying attention to your body and incorporating pelvic floor therapy into your routine, you can help navigate these changes in a way that feels best for you and your partner.

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About Michelle

Michelle is a Doctor of Physical Therapy at Webb Physical Therapy, located in Lawrence, Kansas.  She's worked in PT for close to 10 years, and believes each patient should be treated with a holistic, whole person approach to healing.

She is devoted to helping her patients develop individualized treatment plans to help them achieve their specific goals.

Call (785) 813-1338 for a free 15 minute phone consultation, or email WebbPelvicHealth@gmail.com

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