Are you experiencing pain during sex? If yes, then this article is for you. Pain during sex is more common than you think. This condition is known as dyspareunia which happens to both men and women, however, it’s more common in women. There are many reasons behind it, however, the good news is that it is treatable. Learn about the dyspareunia symptoms and treatment options in this article. You can contact us by visiting our clinic or visiting our website at https://www.urologistbrooklyn.com.
Causes and risk factors
There can be many reasons that cause dyspareunia including physical factors, psychological factors, or both. The location of the pain helps to identify a specific physical cause.
Physical factors
Physical factors lead to entry pain which is linked to vaginal dryness, vaginismus, genital injury, and others.
- Vaginal dryness: This happens when the vagina doesn’t secrete fluids to aid intercourse during sexual arousal. Too little fluid causes painful intercourse. Vaginal dryness also occurs due to lack of foreplay, reduction in estrogen especially after menopause or childbirth, and certain medications including antidepressants, antihistamines, and birth control pills.
- Vaginismus: When involuntary contraction happens in pelvic floor muscles it causes vaginismus which leads to painful sexual intercourse. Women with vaginismus may experience difficulty in gynecological examinations and tampon insertion. Vaginismus symptoms can vary from mild to severe. It can be caused by medical or emotional factors or a combination of both.
- Genital injury: Any trauma that affects your genital region can cause dyspareunia, for example, female genital mutilation (FGM), pelvic surgery, or injury arising from an accident. Painful intercourse is quite common after childbirth. Some research found that 45% of participants also experienced postpartum dyspareunia.
- Inflammation or infection: Inflammation can occur around the vaginal opening (vulvar vestibulitis) and can cause dyspareunia. Several infections like vaginal yeast infections, urinary tract infections, or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can also cause painful intercourse.
- Skin disorders or irritation: Painful intercourse also happens due to eczema, lichen planus, lichen sclerosis, or other skin problems in the genital area. Irritation or allergic reactions to clothing, laundry detergents, or personal hygiene products might be the reasons that cause pain.
- Abnormalities at birth: Rarely, some underlying causes of painful intercourse happen due to some abnormalities such as vaginal agenesis (when your vagina doesn’t develop fully) or imperforate hymen (hymen blocks the vaginal opening).
Besides these physical factors, if pain occurs during deep penetration or is more acute in particular positions it may be the result of medical treatment or a medical condition. Some treatments like pelvic surgery, hysterectomy, or cancer treatments can lead to pain.
Here are certain medical conditions that can cause painful intercourse:
- Cystitis: It is caused by bacterial infections that lead to inflammation of the bladder wall.
- Endometriosis: This condition occurs due to certain tissue from the uterus in other areas of the body.
- Fibroids: Non-cancerous tumors that occur on the wall of the uterus lead to fibroids.
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): It is caused due to dysfunction of the digestive tract.
- Ovarian cysts: A build-up of fluid within an ovary.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): An infection that causes inflammation of the female reproductive organs.
- Uterine prolapse: This occurs when one or more pelvic organs extend into the vagina.
- Interstitial cystitis
Psychological factors
Some common psychological factors also lead to painful intercourse:
- Anxiety, depression, and fear can prevent sexual arousal and lead to vaginal dryness or vaginismus.
- Stress can cause a tightening of pelvic floor muscles resulting in pain.
A history of sexual abuse or sexual violence also leads to painful intercourse later on in life.
Both women and men can experience dyspareunia, however, it is more common in women, especially in postmenopausal women. Around 75% of women experience painful intercourse at some time, however, you’re at risk if you:
- Have a viral or bacterial infection
- Take medications that may cause vaginal dryness.
- Postmenopausal
Symptoms
Dyspareunia symptoms are pain during intercourse which can vary. Pain may occur:
- During penetration
- In the vagina, urethra, or bladder.
- After pain-free intercourse
- Tampon use
- During or after intercourse.
- Burning, itching, or aching.
- Stabbing pain similar to menstrual cramps.
- Happen during specific circumstances or partners.
- Deep in the pelvis during intercourse.
Treatment
In some cases, you may not need any treatment at all, for example, painful intercourse after pregnancy is normal, so, you need to wait for at least 6 weeks (about 1 and a half months) after childbirth before trying intercourse. In case of vaginal dryness or lack of lubrication, you should try water-based lubricants.
In case of dyspareunia caused by infection or condition, the doctor recommends medications such as antibiotics, antifungal medicines, or topical or injectable corticosteroids. In case any long-term medication is causing vaginal dryness, then your physician may change your medications, or they can give alternative medications to restore natural lubrication and reduce pain.
Some women who have low estrogen levels also experience dyspareunia. A doctor gives them a prescription tablet, cream, or flexible ring which delivers a small, regular dose of estrogen to the vagina. Your provider can also prescribe an estrogen-free drug called ospemifene which acts as estrogen in vaginal tissues and makes them thicker and less fragile which lowers the amount of pain women experience during sexual intercourse.
Besides medications, you can also use some home remedies to manage dyspareunia symptoms:
- Empty your bladder before sex.
- Use water-soluble lubricants to manage vaginal dryness.
- Only have sex when you and your partner feel relaxed.
- Take a warm bath before sex.
- Opening shares your problems with your partner.
- Apply an ice pack to the vulva-burning part after sex.
- You can use over-the-counter pain relievers before sex.
Your doctor may recommend you take therapies like desensitization therapy or sex therapy. In desensitization therapy, you will learn different vaginal relaxation techniques, such as Kegel exercises which help you manage pain. In sex therapy, you learn how to recreate intimacy by improving your communication with your partner.
Dyspareunia occurs when you experience pain during sex which can cause physical discomfort, emotional distress, and loss of intimacy. There can be many reasons for this pain. If this pain happens often and hurts you during sex, you should contact your healthcare provider to manage your symptoms. Don’t feel embarrassed to share your symptoms as it happens to many people. Treating the underlying cause can fix your problem and you can enjoy your sex life again.
You can schedule an appointment with Doral Health and Wellness Urology Center’s best urologist in Brooklyn and inquire about your concerns. Our specialists will work with you in managing your condition. To schedule an appointment, please visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212 or call 1-347-384-5690. You can also visit our website at https://www.urologistbrooklyn.com/.
