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Painful Sex
When it comes to sex, we’re supposed to feel good about it, like toe-curling, sheets-gripping and moaning. Sex isn’t supposed to hurt but having painful sex is actually a common problem for women that it has a medical term for it – dyspareunia which is the pain or discomfort in a woman’s vagina, labial or the pelvic region during or after penetrative sex.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as many as 75% of women will experience pain during sex at some point. If the pain is bothering you, don’t be afraid to talk to your gynaecologist about your concerns. Remember, just because it’s a common problem, it doesn’t mean you have to accept it as ‘normal’.
Painful sex could be more than just not being ‘wet’ down there or choosing the wrong position. Here are 8 reasons why it’s painful when having sex with your partner.
1. Not lubricated enough
Not being wet down there could be one of the reasons why sex is painful. If you’re not fully aroused, you might not be fully lubricated. Many women experience vaginal dryness eventhough the vagina naturally lubricates.
When you are dry down there, friction can happen and this causes you to feel pain or discomfort. Thankfully, you can get water-based or silicone-based lubes that can make sex more comfortable and satisfying!
2. You might have an STI or infection down there
STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) such as chlamydia, gonnorhea, genital warts, herpes and syphilis can result in painful sex. They cause vaginal irritation and make penetration uncomfortable.
If you have a yeast infection, this could also be the reason for painful sex. While it may not be an STI, yeast infection can cause itchiness and a burning sensation, which can cause inflammation in the vagina resulting in painful intercourse. See your doctor for treatment!
3. It could be vaginismus
When the pain only happens during penetration, it could be vaginismus. Now, what’s vaginismus? This happens when the muscles in the vagina squeeze, tighten up or spasm when something like a penis or tampon enters it.
This makes it very painful when penetration or any medical examination is performed. If this is the reason, be sure to talk to your gynaecologist to see which treatment can help to relax your vaginal muscles.
4. Injury, trauma or irritation
Any present or past injury, sexual trauma or irritation from an accident can lead to an unpleasant sexual experience. Injuries such as pelvic floor injury from vaginal childbirth can also cause painful sex.
5. You could be having endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the womb) grows in other areas such as the fallopian tubes, the ovaries or the tissue that lines the pelvis. When this happens, pain during or after penetration occurs.
6. You’re taking hormonal birth control pills
Certain meditation can alter your hormones or even change the tissue surrounding the vagina. This includes hormonal birth control pills which have lower doses of estrogen are linked to the contribution of lubrication making your vagina dryer than it should be. This causes sex to be painful.
7. You could have uterus fibroids or ovarian cysts
Fibroids are non-cancerous growth that develops in or on the uterus and ovarian cysts are fluid filled sacs that form on the ovaries. Depending on the size, uterine fibroids can interfere with your sex life, causing uncomfortable and painful sex.
If you have ovarian cysts, painful sex could be a sign that the cyst has ruptured. This is because, during sex, the ovaries can be knocked by the penis causing the cysts to leak fluid.
8. It could be vulvodynia
Vulvodynia is a chronic pain condition of the vulva that can be a reason you’re having painful sex. It causes chronic pain at the opening of the vagina including feelings of burning, stinging, soreness and irritation not just when having sex. It’s best to talk to your gyne if you experience this!
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