A person can experience painful intercourse due to some physical conditions and psychological concerns. Women often experience painful intercourse at some phase of their lives. The term used for painful intercourse is dyspareunia. It is a condition where a person experiences recurrent or persistent pain during or after sex. If you are having painful intercourse then you should get help.
Common symptoms of Painful Intercourse (Dyspareunia)
- Pain at sexual entry (penetration)
- Pain while putting in a tampon
- Throbbing pain that can last for hours after an intercourse
- Aching pain
- Burning pain
- Extreme pain during thrusting
Common causes of Painful Intercourse
The physical causes of painful intercourse depend on when you are feeling the pain. Some emotional factors can also cause pain during intercourse.
Entry Pain
Injury, trauma, or irritation: Any kind of injury or irritation can cause painful intercourse. Women can have irritation or injury due to pelvic surgery or episiotomy, etc.
Poor lubrication: This can occur due to less foreplay. Women can also face this problem when to low estrogen levels after childbirth, during breastfeeding, or after menopause.
Inflammation or skin disorder: Any kind of infection in the urinary tract or genital area can cause pain during sexual activities. Skin conditions like eczema in the genital area can also cause pain.
Vaginismus: The involuntary spasms of vaginal wall muscles can cause penetration pain.
Deep Pain
A woman experiences deep pain with deep penetration. The pain can get worse in certain positions.
Surgical or medical treatments: Any scarring from pelvic surgery like hysterectomy can cause pain. Few medical treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can lead to painful sex.
Certain illnesses and conditions: Illnesses like pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, retroverted uterus, irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic floor dysfunction, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, etc can cause painful intercourse.
Emotional Factors
There are certain emotional concerns about sexual activities. These emotional factors can lead to dyspareunia.
Psychological issues: Any mental condition such as depression, anxiety, fear or intimacy, relationship problems, or any concern about physical appearance can cause poor arousal that often leads to pain or discomfort.
Stress: When a person is stressed, the pelvic floor muscles get tightened and the woman feels pain during intercourse.
History of sexual abuse: A person with a history of sexual abuse can also face dyspareunia.
Diagnosis
Your medical history: Your doctor will ask a few questions like when your pain began, where you feel the pain most, does it happens with every sexual partner, etc. He may ask about your sexual or surgical history.
Pelvic examination: The care provider will check for skin irritation, infection, or anatomical problems. She/he might locate the pain by applying pressure to the genitals and pelvic muscles. The doctor might ask for a visual exam using an instrument known as a speculum. This instrument is used to separate the vaginal walls. Women who have dyspareunia may also face discomfort during a pelvic exam.
Other tests: The caregiver can ask you for a pelvic ultrasound if he/she is suspecting any other causes for painful intercourse.
Treatment options for painful intercourse
Entry pain is common among postmenopausal women who are not taking any hormone replacement medications. The most common treatment to reduce the pain is by applying topical estrogen vaginal cream to the vagina and its opening. You can only get this medication with a prescription. Certain other OTC lubricants and moisturizers are available to ease the pain. The doctor may prescribe ospemifene to make vaginal tissue thicker and less fragile. But this medication can thicken the endometrium which can cause blood clots.
If the pain appears due to urethritis or urethral syndrome, the woman may urinate frequently and feel pain and difficulty. These symptoms often appear due to chronic inflammation of the urethra. To reduce the pain, your doctor may dilate the urethra using a special instrument. Sometimes the doctor also prescribes low-dose antibiotics.
You can have painful intercourse due to inadequate lubricants. For this, you can use lubrication. You can use water-soluble lubricants or other types of lubricants for easy sex. If you are having poor arousal then you should increase extensive foreplay for intercourse.
Few dynamic medications are available to reduce painful intercourse. Taking painful intercourse homeopathic medicine can ease the pain and make you feel comfortable. These medicines are fully safe and you can take them for a long time. Dynamic medications do not have any kind of harmful side effects.
If the pain is occurring due to any infection, you have to treat that condition. When the condition is treated, you will experience less pain during sexual intercourse.
To reduce vaginismus, your doctor may suggest behavioral therapy. Vaginismus occurs due to painful spasms of muscles during vagina opening. This problem can appear due to any previous abuse, any painful experience, or any unsolved conflicts. With behavioral therapy, the symptoms of vaginismus reduce and the woman becomes more confidence in sexual intercourse. Vagnical relaxation exercises are also very helpful to reduce pain.
Home remedies to reduce dyspareunia
- Use water-soluble lubricants while having sex
- Intercourse with the partner when both of you are relaxed
- Empty the bladder before intercourse
- Taking a warm bath can also help in smooth sex
- Have open talks with your partner
- You can take an OTC pain reliever before sex
- Apply an ice pack to the vulva to reduce inflammation after sex
Some therapies are also available to treat dyspareunia. If you are experiencing extremely painful intercourse then visit a doctor.