Many
women experience painful s*x and at most don’t enjoy it. Read all you
need to know about the causes and how to remedy the situation.
“Ouch!
That hurts!” is one of the last things you want to say during s*x and
pain is definitely not what you want to feel during s*x. Not only can it
ruin the mood, but it can create significant anxiety around having s*x.
Here are 10 possible reasons why you are having pain during s*x as
explained by Dr. Tamara.
Knowing what is causing pain is crucial to reliving the pain but also to experiencing pleasure. Here are 10 possible causes:
1. $exually Transmitted Infection
Having
a $exually transmitted infection (STI) can definitely have an impact on
$exual pleasure. An STI can cause significant pain to your internal and
external s*x organs. This pain may intensify during intercourse. STIs
can also be pretty tricky. Some STIs, particularly gonorrhea and
chlamydia, may not show any symptoms until it is too late or until it
causes scarring and major damage to an organ. Additionally, some STIs
will cause vaginal itching and dryness which may also make s*x pretty
painful. If you suspect that you have an STI, it is important to be
evaluated as soon as possible to relieve the pain and/or reduce the
chances of infertility.
2. Dyspareunia
Dyspareunia
is recurrent or persistent genital pain before, during or after $ex. It
can be acquired or congenital or generalized or situational.
Dyspareunia is not a disease, but rather a symptom of an underlying
physical, biological or psychological factor. The pain, which is often
described as excruciating menstrual cramps, can be mild or severe. It
may be superficial, felt in the area around the opening of the vagina
and vulva. Or the pain may be deep, felt within the pelvic region or
lower back. When the pain occurs, a woman experiencing dyspareunia may
be distracted from feeling pleasure and excitement of $ex. Due to the
persistent experience of pain during s*x, a woman still may experience
pain during $ex even after the original source of pain has disappeared,
simply because in her mind, she expects to.
3.
Endometriosis, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), Undefined Pelvic Pain
Fibroid Tumors, Ovarian Cyst, Cancer and Other Medical Conditions
Certain
medical conditions may make $ex painful because of the scar tissue that
forms on internal organs. Not only do these diseases cause pain during
$ex, but they also adversely affect fertility, diminish quality of life
and may cause potentially life-threatening illness. Pelvic pain during
intercourse can also result from tears in the ligaments that support the
uterus. Regular medical care and treatment of these conditions can help
to minimize the effects of these conditions.
4. Lichen Sclerosus
Lichen
sclerosus is an uncommon condition that creates patchy, white skin in
the vulva that is thinner than normal. Lichen sclerosus can make $ex
extremely painful for women due to the itching and scarring. Scarring
may narrow the opening of the vagina which can make penetration
painfully difficult. In addition, blistering of the skin may make the
vulva unbearable to touch. The exact cause of lichen sclerosus is
unknown. However, the condition may be related to a lack of s*x
hormones. Although lichen sclerosus may involve the skin around the
genitals, it is not contagious and cannot be spread through $ex.
5. Negative Beliefs, Attitudes, Behaviors and Experiences Regarding $exuality
S*x
is not only physical; it’s emotional, mental and social. The mind and
the body work together to optimize the $exual experience. Any negative
attitudes, thoughts or beliefs we have been taught regarding $exuality
can contribute to unpleasurable $exual experiences. As a result, a woman
may experience pain during s*x because our bodies are responding to the
negative intergenerational patterns, social messages, and
misinformation that we have received about $ex. In addition, past $exual
abuse may subconsciously cause a woman to experience pain during $ex.
The body’s muscle memory may cause the vagina to tense up upon
penetration. Even the thought of past $exual trauma, can be the source
of pain. Psychological factors, emotional stressors, dissatisfaction in a
relationship can decrease $exual responsiveness, and therefore lead to
painful intercourse as well
6. Products
Many
products contain chemicals that can cause irritation to the vagina and
vulva, leading to pain during $ex. Some of those products include:
contraceptive foams or jellies, latex condoms, vaginal sprays and
deodorants, scented tampons, perfumed soaps, laundry detergents and
excessive douching. These products can cause the vaginal lining to dry
out, making the vagina more prone to rips and tearing during
intercourse. In addition, the products can cause inflammation, intense
itching and burning to the vulva. Only warm water and a mild soap, if
absolutely necessary, should be used to wash the genital area.
7. Vaginismus
Vaginismus
is the physical or psychological condition that affects a woman’s
ability to tolerate vaginal penetration as a result of involuntary
vaginal muscle spasms. A woman suffering from vaginismus cannot
consciously control the spasm. The vaginismic reflex happens as a result
of an object such as a pen*s, vibrator, tampon, etc. coming towards it.
And in some cases, even the thought of the object can cause the vagina
to spasm. The involuntary muscle spasm makes penetration painful or
impossible. Vaginismus can be either primary or secondary. A woman
diagnosed with primary vaginismus has never been able to have
penetrative $ex or experience vaginal penetration without pain.
Secondary vaginismus occurs when a woman who has previously been able to
achieve penetration develops vaginismus. The exact cause of vaginismus
is unknown, however it may be due to physical causes such as an
infection or trauma. Some cases of vaginismus may be due to
psychological causes like fear or anxiety. It may also be linked to a
combination of causes.
8. $exual Positions
Certain
$exual positions can cause pain during s*x. Most positions that allow
for deep, thrusting penetration can be painful for a woman, especially
if her partner is well endowed or if she has an underlying medical
condition. Generally, positions that allow the woman to control the pace
and penetration, e.g., woman on top, tend to be more comfortable for a
sufferer of painful s*x. In order to find out what works, experiment
with different positions, techniques and props (i.e., pillows) to find
out the one(s) that offer the most stimulation with the least amount of
pain.
9. Lack of Lubrication and Va.ginal Dryness
Another
frequent explanation for painful $ex is thinning and drying of the
vaginal tissue. Normally, the lining of the vagina stays lubricated with
a thin layer of clear fluid, however, there are many things that can
cause the lining to become dry. As the vagina’s ability to make its own
mucus declines, it becomes irritated, itchy and painful. Insufficient
lubrication or vaginal dryness can cause mild to significant pain and
interfere with $exual pleasure. Va.ginal dryness is nothing to be
embarrassed about. It affects many women, especially as they age. If
vaginal dryness begins to affects your lifestyle, $ex life and/or
relationship with your partner, consider making an appointment with your
physician. You do not have to live with uncomfortable vaginal dryness.
10. Vulvodynia
Vulvodynia
is chronic vulvar discomfort or pain, characterized by burning,
stinging, irritation or rawness of the female genitalia. In the simplest
of terms, it means “pain of the vulva.” There are two main
subtypes of vulvodynia: 1) generalized vulvodynia and 2) vulvar
vestibulitis. Generalized vulvodynia is pain that occurs spontaneously
and is relatively constant, but there can be some periods of symptom
relief. Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome is characterized by pain limited to
the vestibule, the area surrounding the opening of the vagina. It
occurs during or after pressure is applied to the vestibule. The type of
vulvodynia and severity of symptoms experienced are highly
individualized. Vulvodynia can have a huge impact on a woman’s life. The
pain can be so severe that it puts limitations on a woman’s ability to
function and engage in normal daily activities such as: work, tampon
insertion, gynecological exams, $exual relationships and/or physical
activities. Most women with vulvodynia feel unable to have $exual
intercourse and unable to fully enjoy life.
When s*x
hurts, it can definitely damper the mood, the relationship and cause
feelings of inadequacy. Please keep in mind that there is a difference
between pain and discomfort. Discomfort is a feeling that may not be
pleasurable but it is bearable. Pain is a feeling that is totally
unbearable. Pain is an indication that something is wrong within your
body and whatever it is that you are doing, you need to stop immediately
before you do further damage.
If you are experiencing
any pain during s*x, consider contacting your physician and/or your
local $ex therapist to get to the root of the problem. Treatment is an
option. You do not have to live with unbearable pain forever. Finally,
sometimes you might have to get creative and think outside the box when
it comes to reducing pain during s*x.
0 comments:
Post a Comment