This experimental study evaluates the influence of Osteopathic Manual
Treatment (OMT) in women suffering deep dyspareunia, that is to say, genital
pain during sexual intercourse. Cases with gastrointestinal and/or genitourinary
pathologies, or with psychological important affectations were
excluded from the sample; so only women with muscle skeletal and/or soft
tissues dysfunctions were included in the study.
The most common mechanical reasons of dyspareunia, are the dysfunctions
located at the cervix, at the pelvic floor, ligaments injuries, and nervous
impingements due to scars and/or adherences.
This research, consists of a study group and a control group of 7 women each
one, aged between 25 and 45 years old. The study group received 4
treatments sessions, with a period of time of 2 weeks between them. At each
session OMT was applied with a global approach, in which Thoraco-lumbar
junction (T/L) was taken into consideration, for its neurological implication
with the female genital system; the uterine neck and the ligaments that
determine the functioning of the cervix and therefore of the uterus. The
fibrous center of the perineum (FCP) was also considered for its contribution in
the functioning of the pelvic floor and finally, the cervical area (C0-C3) was
evaluated due to its mechanical and neurological relation with the cranium.
The control group received 3 sessions of placebo treatment, with a period of
time of one week between them; which consisted of the application of 10
minutes of ultrasound in the supra-pubic zone with intensity equal to 0.
The total percentage of improvement of the OMT group was 71,42 %, whereas
in the group that received the treatment placebo, the above mentioned
percentage of improvement was 28,57 %. This result shows that in the group
of intervention the improvement was more than double than at the control
group; though due to the size of the sample, it was not possible to determine
the statistical significance of the study. The differences found between the
OMT group and the group control allows us to suppose that a positive effect of
the treatment exists.
At the discussion there is noticed the importance of restoring the segmental
information at the spinal cord level, as well as those somatic dysfunctions at
the cervix and of the pelvic floor, for hereby, regulating and restoring the
mechanical, neurological, vascular and visceral function. As conclusion, the
present study suggests that the global approach of OMT can influence
positively the improvement of the deep dyspareunia, however there is a need
of future research to validate the above mentioned affirmation.