What is painful sex /why it’s important to diagnose?
How common is painful sex?WOMEN’S HEALTH
Pain during intercourse is very common—nearly 3 out of 4 women have pain during intercourse at some time during their lives. For some women, the pain is only a temporary problem; for others, it is a long-term problem.
Symptoms
If you have painful intercourse, you might feel:Pain only at sexual entry, called penetration.Pain with every penetration, including putting in a tampon.Deep pain during thrusting.Burning pain or aching pain.Throbbing pain lasting hours after sex.
causes
Physical causes of painful intercourse differ, depending on whether the pain happens at entry or with deep thrusting
emotional factors
. Emotional factors can be linked to many types of painful intercourse.Entry painPain during penetration might be associated with a range of factors, including:Not enough lubrication. This is often the result of not enough foreplay.
estrogen drops
A drop in estrogen levels after menopause or childbirth or during breastfeeding also can be a cause.Certain medicines can affect sexual desire or arousal. That can decrease lubrication and make sex painful. Those medicines include antidepressants, high blood pressure medicines, sedatives, antihistamines and certain birth control pills.Injury, trauma or irritation.
accidental hazards
This includes injury or irritation from an accident, pelvic surgery, female circumcision or a cut made during childbirth to enlarge the birth canal, called episiotomy.Inflammation, infection or skin disorders. An infection in the genital area or urinary tract can cause painful intercourse.
skin problems
Eczema1 or other skin problems in the genital area also can be the cause.Vaginismus. These involuntary spasms of the muscles of the vaginal wall can make penetration painful.A problem present at birth. Not having a fully formed vagina, called vaginal agenesis, or having a membrane that blocks the vaginal opening, called imperforate hymen, could cause painful intercourse.
deep pain and it’s causes
Deep pain usually occurs with deep penetration. It might be worse in certain positions.
miscellaneous
- Certain illnesses and conditions. The list includes endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine prolapse, retroverted uterus, uterine fibroids, cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic floor conditions, adenomyosis, hemorrhoids and ovarian cysts.Surgeries or medical treatments. Scarring from pelvic surgery, including hysterectomy, can cause painful intercourse.
- Medical treatments for cancer, such as radiation and chemotherapy, can cause changes that make sex painful.Emotional factorsEmotions are deeply intertwined with sexual activity, so they might play a role in sexual pain.
factors include: - Psychological issues. Anxiety, depression, concerns about physical appearance, fear of intimacy or relationship problems can contribute to a low level of arousal and resulting discomfort or pain.Stress. Your pelvic floor muscles tend to tighten in response to stress in your life. This can contribute to pain during intercourse.
- History of sexual abuse. Not everyone with dyspareunia has a history of sexual abuse. But if you have been abused, it can play a role.It can be hard to tell whether emotional factors are associated with dyspareunia. Initial pain can lead to fear of recurring pain, making it difficult to relax, which can lead to more pain. You might start avoiding sex if you associate it with the pain
factors include:like and share if you find it useful
- Eczema is a condition of skin rashing
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