What should you do if you have pain or discomfort that seems to be happening at random during sex and further testing doesn’t reveal the reason? Pain during sex is a prevalent issue with multiple potential treatments.
Why does penetrative sex hurt me so much?
Women all across the world frequently describe experiencing pain during intercourse. At some point in their life, around three out of four women will feel pain during sexual activity, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Some women only have painful sex once in a while or for a short while, while other women have regular, chronic, or more long term sexual pain.
Numerous reproductive disorders, including fibroids, ovarian cysts, and endometriosis, are associated with painful sex. Periodic pain may indicate the presence of a pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), STI, or other medical problem.
There are a number of reasons why some women have painful sex, but the first step in determining the exact source of your problem is to see a healthcare professional. Finding the cause of your painful sex starts with a pelvic exam and ultrasound from your gynecologist.
Several prevalent disorders can be the cause of painful sex.
Vaginismus
Vaginismus is a condition where a woman experiences involuntary muscle spasms in her pelvic area during intercourse, resulting in painful sex. This can have both physical and psychological components and be brought on by fear or anxiety related to having sex.
A 2017 study found that between 5 and 17 percent of women suffer from vaginismus. Although vaginismus is becoming more widely recognized, because of its wide variety of symptoms, which can differ from person to person, there is still a lot of misinformation and confusion about the issue. Determining the reason of vaginismus can be challenging.
After performing a physical examination and obtaining the patient’s medical history, a doctor diagnoses vaginismus. In cases of maltreatment or past trauma, this can assist the physician in identifying psychological triggers.
Following a diagnosis, vaginismus is typically treated with a mix of physical therapy and psychotherapy to assist lessen pelvic muscle spasms and raise arousal during sexual activity. Medication may occasionally be recommended in order to address any underlying psychological problems that may be the source of vaginismus.
Yeast Infection
If the area around your vagina is itchy and red, or you experience burning or stinging followed by discharge resembling cottage cheese, you may have a yeast infection.
Most of the time, treating yeast infections is simple. But candida infections might affect your sexual life. It could hurt to have penetration sex, and you could infect your partner.
See your physician to determine whether you have a yeast infection. Ensure the completion of the entire treatment regimen. After a yeast infection, you can usually have intercourse a week later.
Pelvic Floor Issues
Pain during sex that does not seem to have an evident reason could be a sign of a tight pelvic floor.
Reduced lubrication, difficulties orgasming, and pain during insertion or deep penetration during intercourse are common signs of a tight pelvic floor.
Some women with a tight pelvic floor may experience symptoms that include:
- Pain with urination
- Frequent urination
- Difficulty starting their stream of urine
- Constipation
- Low back pain
- Deep hip pain
- Increased cramping and menstrual-related pain
Pain during sexual activity is exacerbated by a tight pelvic floor since these muscles must be able to relax in order to permit penetration.
Enhancing the pelvic floor can help make sex more pleasurable and less painful.
Work on pelvic floor activation (kegel) in a variety of holds and positions to strengthen the pelvic floor. Incorporate both extended holds and rapid activations. “This encompasses functional exercises like squats and bridges.”
It takes time to strengthen the pelvic floor. Four to six weeks is when you should start to notice any improvement.
Hormonal Changes
During specific phases of the menstrual cycle, painful sexual relations may result from hormonal imbalances brought on by menopause, PMS, or other medical disorders.
There are several reasons that could apply. Because estrogen levels drop after menopause, vaginal dryness may be the cause. Some women may feel tightness, pain, or discomfort at the vaginal entrance. Changes in hormones that occur before, during, and after a period may cause women to have irritation of the urinary tract or bladder, and this can be the cause of painful sex.
Psychological reasons for pain during sex
Painful sexual encounters might occasionally also be a result of an underlying psychological problem, such as anxiety or depression. Tension in the vaginal area caused by anxiety and mental upset can result in dyspareunia, or painful sex.
It’s important to remember that recurring pain during sex may be caused by past trauma or abuse. Your doctor might suggest therapy or anti-anxiety drugs if psychological problems are thought to be the root of your sex-related discomfort.
Pain due to lack of lubrication
Because arousal stimulates the neurological system, more blood flows to the genitalia, so initiating the natural lubrication process. As a result, fluid from the blood vessels beneath seeps into the vaginal mucosa. The purpose of this procedure is to shield the vagina from irritation when being penetrated. In general, you get wetter the more turned on you are.
Decreased lubrication can be connected to menopause, perimenopause, birth control pills, certain medical problems and drugs, anxiety, depression, and even plain stress. Therefore, even if you’re super-turned-on, that doesn’t ensure a WAP. Friction can result in tiny holes in the vaginal tissue called fissures if that is the case and you still have penetrating intercourse. The next day, you would undoubtedly feel these tears, like little paper cuts, but that discomfort should go in a few days.
Pain because your partner is large
Vaginas vary in size in the same way that penises. A vagina’s length is typically 4 inches. The muscular canal called the vagina connects the vulva, the outer portion of the female genitalia, to the uterine neck, which is situated in the lower belly.
The vagina is elastic, much like a penis grows in size when it is erect.
The vagina’s walls collapse in on itself while it is in a state of “rest,” which is defined as neither penetration nor pushing out of the baby. There are folds in these walls that may be stretched to fit different penis sizes and lengths.
Your vaginal tissue can require extra care if your new companion is quite bulky or if you’re using a larger toy than usual. Foreplay is essential here.
It was a quickie
A quickie or rough sex is perfectly acceptable, but “appropriate arousal and lubrication need time.” In order for the neurological system to stimulate and enhance blood flow and lubricate the genitalia, women must be psychologically stimulated.
Any pain you experience the next day after a quickie is probably the result of excessive friction and inadequate lubrication, which can cause microtears in the vagina. A convenient bottle of lubricant is your best friend in that situation. However, trying with more forceful postions or rougher sex might place more strain on your vulva or vagina (as well as other muscles), which may cause you to feel sore the next day. Similar to soreness after exercise, it should pass quickly.
What to do if you experience painful sex ?
Since there are numerous possible causes of sex-related pain, each person’s course of treatment is unique. To find out what is causing your discomfort, your OB-GYN will likely thoroughly check your medical history and symptoms.
To rule out any potential medical concerns, you might need to have a laparoscopy, pelvic exam, and ultrasound. Then, medication, lifestyle modifications, or pelvic floor treatment may be able to lessen the pain during intercourse.
If you believe psychological reasons are causing your painful sex, then seeking help and advice for a sex therapist will help.