10 Common Reasons Why You Experinece Pain During $ex [Ladies]

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 s3x 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 Vaginal 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. Vaginal 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.