What causes women pain during sex? -Life Health

Painful intercourse is the term for recurrent pain in the genital area or in the pelvis during sex. The pain can be sharp or intense. It can happen before, during, or after sex.

Painful intercourse is more common in women than in men. Estimates of how many women experience pain during sex during their lifetime range from 10 to 28%.

1. What causes pain during sex?

For some women, painful intercourse is a sign of a physical problem or may be painful due to emotional factors.

Common causes of painful intercourse include: vaginal dryness due to menopause, childbirth, breastfeeding, medication or too little stimulation before intercourse, skin disorders that cause ulcers, chafing, itching or burning, infections, such as yeast or urinary tract infections.

It can also be caused by trauma or trauma during childbirth, an accident, or an episiotomy. Caused by hysterectomy or pelvic surgery, vulvar pain, vaginitis, or spontaneous spasm of the muscles of the vaginal wall, endometriosis, cystitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, tumor uterine fibroids, irritable bowel syndrome, radiation therapy… also cause women to experience pain during sex.

Factors that decrease sex drive or affect a person’s ability to have arousal can also cause painful intercourse including stressors, which can lead to tightening of the pelvic floor muscles, fear, guilt or shame related to sex, self-image problems, drinking birth control pillsrelationships, cancer, arthritis, diabetes and thyroid disease, a history of sexual abuse or being a rape victim.

2. Symptoms of painful intercourse

Improper use of tampons during menstruation can cause inflammation and painful intercourse.

Painful intercourse can vary, pain can occur in the vagina, urethra or bladder, during or after intercourse deep in the pelvis, with tampon use, itching, stinging, or pain similar to menstrual cramps.

3. Who is at risk of pain during intercourse?

Both women and men can experience pain during intercourse, but the condition is more common in women and is most common in postmenopausal women. About 75% of women have painful intercourse at some point. Women are at increased risk of painful intercourse when taking medications that cause vaginal dryness, have a viral or bacterial infection, or are postmenopausal.

4. How is painful intercourse diagnosed?

Several tests help your doctor identify and diagnose painful intercourse. Your doctor will ask about your past medical and sexual history, do an ultrasound, or recommend tests to determine the location of the pain.

5. Treatment of painful intercourse

5.1 Medicines

Low estrogen levels cause painful intercourse in some women, so pills or creams that have a small amount of estrogen delivered into the vagina can be used.

Treatments for painful intercourse are based on the cause of the condition. If the pain is caused by an infection or underlying condition, your doctor may treat it with antibiotics, antifungals, topical or injected corticosteroids.

If long-term medication is causing vaginal dryness, your doctor may change your prescription or try alternative medications that can restore natural lubrication and relieve pain.

Low estrogen levels cause painful intercourse in some women, so pills or creams that have a small amount of estrogen delivered into the vagina can be used.

A drug that does not contain estrogen is also effective in making tissues thicker and less fragile. This can reduce a woman’s level of pain during sex.

5.2 Home care

Home remedies that can also reduce painful intercourse include:

Use water-soluble lubricants.

Have sex only when you and your partner are relaxed.

– Talk openly with your partner about pain during intercourse

– Urinate before sex.

Take a warm bath (not too hot) before sex.

Take an over-the-counter pain reliever before having sex.

Apply an ice pack to the vulva area to relieve burning pain after sex.

5.3 Alternative treatments

Kegel exercises to relax the vagina can reduce pain during intercourse.

Your doctor may also recommend desensitization or sex therapy. In desensitization therapy, you will learn vaginal relaxation techniques to relieve pain, such as Kegel exercises.

In sex therapy, you can learn to re-establish intimacy and improve communication with your partner.

6. Prevent painful intercourse

When intercourse is painful, women can do the following things to reduce their risk:

After giving birth, wait at least six weeks before resuming sex.

Use a water-soluble lubricant for vaginal dryness.

– Practice good hygiene, keep the appendage clean and dry.

– You should go for regular gynecological examination at least every 6 months

– Prevent sexually transmitted diseases by using condoms or other barriers.

– Encourage natural vaginal lubrication with enough time for foreplay and stimulation.

Alternatives to sex may be helpful until the underlying disease is treated. You and your partner can use other techniques for intimacy until penetration is more comfortable.