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Overactive Pelvic Floor: Female Sexual Functioning

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The Overactive Pelvic Floor

Abstract

Pelvic floor overactivity is a multifaceted problem with medical, psychological, sexual, and relational sequelae. This chapter addresses the involvement of the pelvic floor muscles in sexual arousal and orgasm, as well as the relationship between pelvic floor overactivity and sexual problems in women, including persistent genital arousal disorder. Contrary to findings of early studies and contrary to common opinion, women who do not have a low-tone pelvic floor and who seek to enhance sexual arousal and more frequent orgasms have not much to gain from pelvic floor muscle training. Findings in women with pelvic floor dysfunction support the conclusion that a relaxed or normal-tone pelvic floor is associated with better sexual function. Pelvic floor overactivity, which we conceptualize as an emotional response resulting from chronic activation of the defensive stress-system by trauma such as sexual abuse or insecure attachment, is associated with impaired sexual arousal, desire, and orgasm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sexology and Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Academic Medical Center, H4-135, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105, AZ, The Netherlands

    Ellen Laan Ph.D. & Rik H. W. van Lunsen M.D., Ph.D.

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  1. Ellen Laan Ph.D.
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  2. Rik H. W. van Lunsen M.D., Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Ellen Laan Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Service, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel

    Anna Padoa

  2. Inner Stability, Ltd, Beit Shemesh, Israel

    Talli Y. Rosenbaum

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Laan, E., van Lunsen, R.H.W. (2016). Overactive Pelvic Floor: Female Sexual Functioning. In: Padoa, A., Rosenbaum, T. (eds) The Overactive Pelvic Floor. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22150-2_2

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