Painful intercourse (dyspareunia) - Symptoms and causes | Medtalks

Painful Sex | How to Reduce Pain During Sex

You won't want to have sex if it aches. Pain, for the most part, puts a stop to desire. Vaginal pain is said to be experienced by roughly 20% of women during foreplay or intercourse. Infections, yeast, STDs, allergies, drug reactions, nerve damage, and chronic illnesses are only a few of the reasons for pain, which can be intermittent or persistent. Unfortunately, many women who experience pain during sex are rejected as being repressed, having psychological concerns, or just exaggerating the problem, when their symptoms are caused by legitimate medical conditions.

What are the Possible Causes | How to Reduce Pain During Sex

2. Clenching of the Vaginal Muscles- You're going to flinch if you're about to perform anything that has previously caused you pain. When sex hurts, women involuntarily tighten their vaginal muscles, reducing the amount of room available for the penis to penetrate, making intercourse even more painful. If this happens to you, seek treatment. Sexual pain is treated by a specialty known as "women's health physical therapy."

The Bottom Line

Painful sex or dyspareunia can occur due to a multitude of reasons as listed above. The wisest step you could take in this scenario is to consult a therapist specializing in couples and sex therapy. Most causes are easily resolvable through therapy alone and don’t require medical or surgical intervention.