Sex should be pleasurable and enjoyable, and it grows stronger bonds and draws partners together. But sometimes, sex can become painful for you and disgust you, and you will do anything to avoid it.

 

Painful sexual intercourse can significantly impact your life as it can affect your relationship, though you should not feel embarrassed about it. Painful intercourse is a common problem among women.

 

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 75 percent of women will experience Burning pain during sex at some point. But, they can resolve this problem with the right approach.

 

What is painful intercourse?

 

Painful intercourse, medically known as dyspareunia, is a genital pain that can occur before, during, or after sexual intercourse and can recur. Painful intercourse can be due to many reasons ranging from structural to psychological problems. It can also suggest underlying conditions like sexually transmitted infections.

 

Burning pain during sex can affect women's vagina, lower back, uterus, bladder, or pelvic region, and it can differ from one woman to another. While some women may feel burning pain during sex penetration only, others may feel it even when using tampons.

 

Symptoms of painful intercourse

 

Besides burning pain during sex, painful intercourse can cause other symptoms depending on when the pain occurs, whether before, during, or after the intercourse. Here are some of the symptoms of painful sexual intercourse:

  • Pain during sexual penetration only
  • Pain with both sexual penetration and when putting tampon
  • Pain during thrusting, which is usually deep
  • Aching pain
  • Throbbing pain that last hours after intercourse

 

Causes of painful intercourse

 

Physical or emotional factors can cause painful intercourse, but both can cause burning pain during sex. The physical causes depend on when the pain occurs, whether during penetration or deep thrusting. Emotional factors can be due to many types of painful intercourse.

 

Physical factors

 

Burning pain during sex caused by physical factors can occur at entry or during deep penetration or thrusting, causing entry and deep pain, respectively.

 

Entry pain

 

Burning pain during penetration can be due to a wide range of factors, including;

 

Inadequate lubrication

To enjoy sexual intercourse, your vagina must be lubricated well, which can happen if you and your partner have enough foreplay. Adequate foreplay will excite your body and activate the hormones responsive to the production of vaginal fluids (estrogen) to lubricate the vagina. Sometimes, partners don't take time and engage in exotic foreplay. This may cause pain during penetration due to friction.

 

Another factor that interferes with vaginal lubrication is a drop in estrogen levels. Certain factors like menopause, breastfeeding, or childbirth can cause a drop in these hormones. You may feel burning pain during sex when the level of estrogen drops.

 

Suppose your body cannot produce enough lubricant due to menopause or other factors. In that case, it is advisable to use personal lubricant for a good sexual intercourse experience and avoid pain.

 

Certain medications can also affect your sexual desire, which can cause a decrease in lubrication, thus causing burning pain during sex. They include medication for high blood pressure, antidepressants, antihistamines, sedatives, and certain birth control pills.

 

Injury or trauma

 

Injury or trauma to the genital area can cause pain during sexual activity in women. This can be due to physical damage to the area's tissues or muscles or psychological trauma that causes a woman to feel anxious or fearful during sexual activity.

 

Some common causes of physical trauma that can lead to painful sex include childbirth, surgery in the pelvic area, sexual assault or abuse, and conditions such as endometriosis, vulvodynia, or vaginismus. These conditions can cause inflammation, scarring, or other damage to the area's tissues, making sexual activity uncomfortable or painful.

 

Infection or skin disorder

 

An infection or skin disorder can cause burning pain during sex in many ways. Infections or skin disorders can cause inflammation in the vaginal area leading to painful intercourse. This is because the inflammation can increase the sensitivity of the vaginal tissues and make sexual activity uncomfortable or painful.

 

Some infections and skin disorders can cause vaginal dryness. Engaging in sexual intercourse with a dry vagina can cause friction causing pain. Also, some infections and skin disorders can irritate the nerves, which can cause burning pain during sex.

 

Vaginismus

 

Vaginismus occurs when the vaginal muscles involuntarily contract or spasm, making it difficult or impossible to have penetrative sex. This can often result in pain or discomfort during attempted intercourse.

 

When the vaginal muscles contract, it can make penetration difficult or impossible and cause pain or discomfort. Women with vaginismus may also experience anxiety, fear, or shame related to their difficulty with sex, which can further exacerbate the problem.

 

Experts have not fully understood the exact causes of vaginismus. Still, they think it may be related to psychological factors, such as anxiety or past trauma, or physical factors, such as infections like STIs or injury.

 

Treatment for vaginismus may involve a combination of therapies, including pelvic floor physical therapy, counseling, and vaginal dilators to help gradually stretch and relax the vaginal muscles.

 

A problem present at birth

 

Some conditions that can be present at birth can also cause burning pain during sex, and they may include:

 

  • Vaginal agenesis: This is a condition where the vagina is underdeveloped or absent. This can make penetration difficult or impossible and cause pain or discomfort during attempted intercourse.
  • Imperforate hymen: This is a condition where the hymen, a thin membrane that partially covers the vaginal opening, does not have an opening. This can cause pain or discomfort during attempted penetration.
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: This genetic disorder affects the adrenal glands, leading to excess production of androgen hormones. In women, this can cause the clitoris to enlarge and the labia to become more prominent, making penetration difficult or painful.

 

Deep pain

 

This pain occurs when you have deep penetration. The severity of this kind of pain worsens with certain positions. The causes of deep pain include;

 

Certain illnesses and conditions

 

Certain conditions and illnesses affecting the reproductive and digestive systems can cause painful intercourse. These conditions include fibroids, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), pelvic floor dysfunction, uterine prolapse, adenomyosis, retroverted uterus, ovarian cysts, and hemorrhoids.

 

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Surgeries or medical treatments

 

Surgeries or medical treatments that can cause painful intercourse in women include;

 

  • Hysterectomy: A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the uterus, which can lead to changes in pelvic anatomy and decreased estrogen levels. These changes can make sexual intercourse uncomfortable or painful.
  • Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy is often used to treat cancer in the pelvic area, which can cause scarring and damage to the tissues in the area. This can make sexual intercourse painful or uncomfortable.
  • Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a treatment for cancer that can cause a range of side effects, including fatigue, nausea, and pain. These side effects can make sexual intercourse difficult or uncomfortable.
  • Pelvic surgery: Surgery in the pelvic area, such as surgery to remove ovarian cysts or to repair pelvic organ prolapse, can cause changes in pelvic anatomy that can make sexual intercourse painful or uncomfortable.

 

Emotional factors

 

Emotion plays a vital role in romance and sexual activities. Some of the emotional factors that can cause painful sexual intercourse are;

 

Stress

 

Stress is a common emotional factor that can contribute to painful sexual intercourse in women in many ways. Emotionally, stress can reduce sexual desire and arousal, making sexual activity less enjoyable and increasing the likelihood of pain or discomfort.

 

Stress can cause tension in the muscles, which can make sexual activity uncomfortable or painful. It can also contribute to other physical factors that can cause painful intercourse, such as vaginal dryness, tension in the pelvic floor muscles, and hormonal imbalances, which can affect vaginal lubrication and make sexual activity uncomfortable.

 

A history of sexual abuse

A history of sexual abuse can contribute to painful sexual intercourse in women. Survivors of sexual abuse may experience physical and emotional trauma that can impact their sexual function.

 

 

Psychological problems

 

Psychological problems can contribute to painful sexual intercourse in women. Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can affect sexual function and cause pain or discomfort during sexual activity. Here are some ways psychological problems can contribute to painful intercourse:

 

  • Anxiety: Anxiety can cause physical symptoms such as muscle tension and increased heart rate, contributing to pain or discomfort during sexual activity. Anxiety can also lead to decreased sexual desire or difficulty reaching orgasm, which can make the sexual activity less enjoyable and increase the likelihood of pain.
  • Depression: Depression can lead to decreased sexual desire and arousal, which can make sexual activity less enjoyable and increase the likelihood of pain or discomfort.
  • Body image issues: Negative body image can contribute to anxiety and depression, which can affect sexual function and cause pain or discomfort during sexual activity.

 

Conclusion

 

Painful sexual intercourse is a common problem experienced by many women. Various factors can contribute to pain during sexual activity, including medical conditions, infections, psychological factors, and relationship issues.

 

It is essential to seek support from a healthcare provider if you are experiencing pain or discomfort during sexual activity, as many treatments are available to help manage the underlying causes of pain. With the right treatment, many women can improve their sexual function and enjoy pain-free sexual activity.

Contributor: admin