Pain with intercourse

November 10, 2004

Hi, I'm treating a 37 year old woman who has pain with intercourse.

Actually she's too tight to have intercourse, but there's no dryness

(in fact, just recently she's noticed some discharge. She has not

always been this way (although its been about 5 years), and says that

despite the sexual abuse in her childhood she used to enjoy sex. She

believes that the problem is related to an unconscious reaction to

repressed memories of abuse, but is afraid to look at the problem too

closely for fear of falling apart (she is a child psychologist, so is

savvy psychologically).

So, I am wondering how to treat this with TCM. I'm thinking maybe

the Chong channel is in order---perhaps the problem is related to a

cold uterus. An additional issue is that her mother died from

ovarian cancer and she has been told that she has a 50% chance of

getting it if she doesn't take either the pill or depo provera--she

has chosen to use depo provera so avoid periods because she gets

migrains with her periods (hopefully that will change with

treatment). I suspect the hormones contribute to her stagnation.

She's a lovely person who has coped amazingly well with a difficult

childhood. This is understandably affecting her marriage and I'd

like to help her--with acupuncture or herbs if needed.

Anyone have any experience with this issue? Any thoughts would be

appreciated. Thanks!

Laura

November 10, 2004

I don't think the root of her problem can be address without looking at

her childhood. I believe that people are intrinsically very strong,

especially survivors of abuse, and as helping professionals we do them a

dis-service by treating them as if they are weak and supporting their

fears. If she survived the initial abuse she must eventually come to

terms with it as an adult where she has the tools and maturity to work

through it (especially being a child psychologist!). There are no

alternatives to doing this in the end. The energy she must be using to

repress dealing with these issues is more than likely the root cause of

her sexual problem as well as any number of other physical problems she

is experiencing like her painful periods and migraines. I have worked

with this issue as a hypnotherapist and there are ways of confronting

those early childhood demons without " falling apart " . With a

compassionate and well trained approach patients can go through their

fears, express their rage and release the strangle hold these early

experiences have on them. I think that we need to be aware of our own

fears and issues around child abuse and trauma and not project our stuff

and judgment on our patients when they are coming to us for help.

From a Chinese medicine perspective, according to the classics " Qi

follows Shen " . The Qi stagnation in her genitals is clearly due to her

Shen (the root). I would probably treat the Dai meridian before the

Chong but either should help. Any issue regarding Qi stagnation and the

genitals must involve the Liver and Gall Bladder (thus the Dai Mai over

the Chong and also causing her migraines). There is a really powerful

treatment using Ion pumping cords for these kinds of spirit issues.

TW-5 on the right with the black lead to Liv-3 red lead on the left;

PC-6 on the left with the red lead to GB-41 on the right with the black

lead; plus Yin Tang (a powerful Ghost point). Retain the needles for 20

- 30 minutes and do not add any other points during this treatment as it

can " confuse " the intent and flow of the Qi. I agree that the depo

shots are contributing to her stagnation. Hormones work at the level of

the Jing and are nothing to mess with unless there are no alternatives.

She probably needs a multi-faceted approach (physical, psychological and

spiritual) and a lot of compassion and loving support from many people

around her to confront this. She may not be ready to deal with it all

at once, and she doesn't have to. It will likely be a long journey of

" peeling the onion " , but it can be a very empowering and liberating

process. If she can find the courage to go straight into her fears and

work through it her life will be her reward.

Best of luck!

Chris

heylaurag [heylaurag]

Wednesday, November 10, 2004 1:18 AM

Chinese Medicine