Decreasing Dyspareunia and Dysmenorrhea in Women with Endometriosis via a Manual Physical Therapy: Results from Two Independent Studies

Wurn B, Belinda F. Wurn, Wurn L, Lawrence J. Wurn, Patterson K, Kimberley Patterson, King C, C. King, Scharf E, E.S. Scharf
Journal of Endometriosis · 2011 · vol. 3(4) , pp. 188–196 · doi:10.5301/je.2012.9088 · PMC6154826 · W2085791595
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

This study found that site-specific manual physical therapy significantly improved sexual function, dyspareunia, and dysmenorrhea in women with endometriosis.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-07, 2026-07-09 · read from full text ⓘ

This study evaluated the efficacy of a non-invasive, site-specific manual physiotherapy method (the Wurn Technique) for improving dyspareunia and dysmenorrhea in women with surgically diagnosed endometriosis, using both retrospective (n=14) and prospective (n=18) designs. Participants received 20 hours of abdominal and pelvic floor manual therapy aimed at addressing adhesions and soft-tissue mobility restrictions, with outcomes assessed 6 weeks post-treatment using the Female Sexual Function Index for sexual function and the Mankoski Pain Scale for menstrual and intercourse pain. Statistically significant improvements were reported across all FSFI sexual-function domains (including dyspareunia) in the retrospective analysis, and the prospective analysis showed significant reductions in menstrual cycle pain, dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia. The authors note that randomized, blinded, multi-center studies are needed to validate results and identify potential pitfalls. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it tests the Wurn Technique’s effects on dyspareunia and dysmenorrhea in surgically diagnosed endometriosis patients.

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Abstract

Purpose To assess the efficacy of a non-invasive, site-specific manual physiotherapeutic technique in ameliorating dyspareunia and dysmenorrhea, commonly associated with endometriosis, by performing a retrospective and prospective analysis, respectively. Methods Human female subjects, all surgically diagnosed with endometriosis, were enrolled in each of the studies post informed consent. Each subject underwent 20 hours of site-specific manual physical therapy (Wurn Technique) designed to address adhesions and restrictions in soft tissue mobility in the abdomen and the pelvic floor. Post-test was completed 6 weeks after treatment. Evaluation incorporated outcome prediction based on Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) for analyzing the effect on dyspareunia and sexual function (n=14) and quantitative differences in ratings of average pain during menstrual cycle and intercourse based on the Mankoski Pain Scale for analyzing the effect on dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia (n=18), respectively. Data was analyzed by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (two-sided). Results FSFI Full Scale score showed overall statistically significant improvements (P=.001) for all domains of sexual function, inclusive of dyspareunia (P<.001) in the retrospective analyses. Mankoski Pain Scale exhibited statistically significant improvements in menstrual cycle (P<.014), dysmenorrhea (P=.008) and dyspareunia (P=.001) in the prospective analyses. Conclusion Site-specific manual physiotherapy might offer a non-pharmacologic and non-surgical alternative in the treatment of dyspareunia and dysmenorrhea in endometriosis patients. Further randomized, blinded, and multi-center assessment of the technique is warranted to validate the results and gauge any potential pitfalls.
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Methods

Human female subjects, all surgically diagnosed with endometriosis, were enrolled in each of the studies post informed consent. Each subject underwent 20 hours of site-specific manual physical therapy (Wurn Technique) designed to address adhesions and restrictions in soft tissue mobility in the abdomen and the pelvic floor. Post-test was completed 6 weeks after treatment. Evaluation incorporated outcome prediction based on Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) for analyzing the effect on dyspareunia and sexual function (n=14) and quantitative differences in ratings of average pain during menstrual cycle and intercourse based on the Mankoski Pain Scale for analyzing the effect on dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia (n=18), respectively. Data was analyzed by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (two-sided).

Purpose

To assess the efficacy of a non-invasive, site-specific manual physiotherapeutic technique in ameliorating dyspareunia and dysmenorrhea, commonly associated with endometriosis, by performing a retrospective and prospective analysis, respectively.

Results

FSFI Full Scale score showed overall statistically significant improvements (P=.001) for all domains of sexual function, inclusive of dyspareunia (P<.001) in the retrospective analyses. Mankoski Pain Scale exhibited statistically significant improvements in menstrual cycle (P<.014), dysmenorrhea (P=.008) and dyspareunia (P=.001) in the prospective analyses.

Conclusion

Site-specific manual physiotherapy might offer a non-pharmacologic and non-surgical alternative in the treatment of dyspareunia and dysmenorrhea in endometriosis patients. Further randomized, blinded, and multi-center assessment of the technique is warranted to validate the results and gauge any potential pitfalls.

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Condition tags

endometriosisdysmenorrheadyspareunia

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