Why Does Sex Hurt? 11 Reasons and Solutions
Sex is associated with pleasure. However, it”s a physical process, and yes, it can cause pain. In this article, you”ll learn why this happens, how it”s treated, and how to prevent it.
Contents:
Why Does Sex Hurt?
Pain during sex is not a disease, but a symptom (doctors call it “dyspareunia”). And it can be a symptom of many diseases and conditions. For example:
- Vaginal Dryness.
Vaginal dryness is almost always associated with hormonal changes. For example: after menopause, after childbirth, during breastfeeding—when a woman generally transitions from being a mother ready for childbirth, and the body focuses all its energy on this, neglecting everything else. Vaginal dryness can also be caused by medications.
Another common cause is insufficient arousal before intercourse or personal characteristics of the woman. The vagina typically doesn”t produce enough lubrication, for example, because some people sweat a little.
- Skin conditions that cause ulceration, cracking, itching, or burning in the vagina.
- Infection—sexually transmitted infections or urinary tract infections, as these systems are dark.
- Surgical interventions in the pelvic area. For example, during childbirth, doctors are often forced to dissect one of the vaginal walls (this is called an “episiotomy”) to help the baby come out. Vulvar pain is a condition in which the entire external genitalia, the labia majora, and the intra-vaginal area are constantly painful. The causes of this condition are also very varied: infection, malignancy, immune or metabolic problems.
- *Vaginitis, in other words, is an inflammation of the vagina due to a disruption of its microflora.
In most cases, it appears due to external interference, that is, viruses or infections. Sometimes due to neglect of hygiene or allergies to contraceptives. By the way, sometimes vaginal irritation appears due to too much inflammation of the vagina. For example, did you know that you shouldn”t clean the inside of your vagina? The vagina is a delicate and complex system that cleans itself, and your body contains many beneficial and important bacteria. You only need to wash the external genitalia, and only the internal genitals.
Vaginalism is when the vaginal muscles reflexively tighten, allowing penetration or causing pain. In most cases, the cause of vaginalism is psychological. This is past sexual fear or psychological trauma in this area.
- Endometriosis. This occurs when the tissue protecting the uterus invades nearby organs.
- Cystitis. Mom told you — don”t sit in the cold! Simply put, it is an inflammation of the bladder.
- Or other inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs.
- Irritable bowel syndrome.
- The worst case scenario is cancer. Vaginal dryness can also be caused by chemotherapy, but if you undergo it, vaginal dryness is unlikely to bother you.
- Vaginal dryness is also caused by psychological problems. The chain is like this. Psychological problems lead to lack of sexual arousal, which leads to lack of lubrication, i. e. dryness, and therefore pain in the vagina during sexual intercourse.
Read also:
Why does a girl hurt during sex? Main reasons Until recently, many doctors considered female genital pain (dyspareunia or vulvia) a “neurological disease.” Some men don”t
For sex to be pleasant and comfortable, a girl must be relaxed, more or less satisfied with herself, confident in her attractiveness, trust her partner and not experience any special problems in the relationship.
Of course, this is very personal. Some people compensate for low self-esteem only through active sex. The relationship is full of seams, but in bed everything is great. You should know that the cause of vaginal pain can be psychological. These include relationship problems, work stress and low self-esteem.
It may also be caused by an illness (such as arthritis, diabetes, thyroid disease) or because birth control pills interfere with your hormones.
Pain during sex and medical intervention
Pain During Sex and Medical Interventions
11 Reasons Why Women Experience Pain During Sex and How to Cope
As you”ve already read above, pain during sex is just a symptom. The underlying causes can be much more dangerous and serious, and we”re not just talking about sex.
First, your doctor will ask you a few questions about your pain. When you experience it, under what circumstances, and where exactly it hurts. Does the pain depend on the partner you have sex with and the position you use? The pain occurs during sex or only during urination (for example, when urinating).
They will then examine you externally and, unfortunately, internally for signs of disease. For the internal examination, they will use a speculum and possibly a swab to press on a specific area to pinpoint its location.
They may then refer you for further tests, such as a pelvic ultrasound. They may take a swab to determine if you have a sexually transmitted infection. They may also ask you to provide a urine sample and undergo allergy testing. If all of this indicates you are healthy, you will likely be referred to a primary care physician.
Treatment for pain during sex depends on the underlying cause identified by your doctor. These include antibiotics, medications to treat sexually transmitted infections, and injections. If you are taking medications, your doctor will likely suggest a change, suspecting that they are causing your dryness.
What should you do?
What Should You Do?
Use lube during sex. If the pain is caused solely by dryness, and everything else is normal (no urinary issues, psychological problems, or other pelvic pain), you may simply be producing enough lubrication. This is common, and lube from sex shops can take your sex life to a whole new level.
- Have sex when you really want it. Not because you want your partner to be comfortable, not because it is your “marital duty,” but because you want it yourself.
- It”s better if sex is slow, subtle and gentle. Leave the sex marathon and prepare a whip and dildo for the horses.
- If you”ve never done this, tell your partner that it hurts you. This way, during sex, he will treat you more strictly and care about your well-being, or understanding refers to sexual refusal.
- Emptying your bladder before sex can be helpful. Even if your vaginal pain is not caused by a urological condition, realizing that your bladder is empty can help you feel calmer.
- Take a warm bath before sex and use pleasant aromatherapy to completely relax your body and mind.
- Before sex, you can take simple over-the-counter pain relievers.
- After sex, you can apply a cold object to the groin area to relieve the burning sensation.
- If you don”t have pain yet, but you”re worried that it might develop, the following preventive measures will help you:
5 main reasons why women find it painful to have sex
