Pam,
Have you talked with your OB/GYN or another health care provider about your pain during intercourse? There are several possible "causes" for painful intercourse, and you may want to rule out any medical causes.
MedlinePlus article suggests: if you are going through menopause and lubricants don't work, talk to your doctor about estrogen creams or other prescription medications.
Other options:
You and your partner may be able to minimize pain with a few changes in your sexual routine:
* Switch positions and try different positions
* Communicate. Talk about what feels good and what doesn't. If you need your partner to go slow, say so.
* Make sure you feel very aroused before you start intercourse. It is only when you are highly excited that your vagina expands to its fullest length and width. As women go through menopause, it may take a longer time and more touching to get fully aroused.
* Use lubricants. A water-based lubricant, such as K-Y jelly or Astroglide. If intercourse lasts more than a few minutes, you may need to stop briefly and smooth on some extra lubricant. Put lubrication on your partner's penis and on your vagina.
* Vaginal Moisturizers. Replens and Lubrin are vaginal moisturizers that you can use 2 or 3 times weekly to help keep your vagina moist and at a more normal pH. Their effects last longer than those of lubricants, and you can buy them without a prescription. Vitamin E gel caps can also be used as a vaginal moisturizer. With vaginal moisturizers, you can still use gel lubricant around the vulva or on the penis if needed. Talk with your doctor before using any new products!
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* Treating underlying conditions. If an infection or medical condition is contributing to your pain, treating the underlying cause may resolve your problem
* Medications. In some cases, your doctor may suggest an oral prescription pain medication or injections of pain medications into the site of the pain.
* Desensitization therapy. During this therapy, you learn vaginal relaxation exercises that can decrease pain. Your therapist may recommend pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises) or other techniques to decrease pain with intercourse.
* Counseling or sex therapy. If sex has been painful for a long time, you may experience a negative emotional response to sexual stimulation even after treatment. If you and your partner have avoided intimacy because of painful intercourse, you may also need help improving communication with your partner and restoring sexual intimacy. Talking to a counselor or sex therapist can help resolve these issues. You can find a therapist in your area: http://www.aasect.org/default.asp
Relaxing the Vaginal Muscles and Kegel Exercises
Once a woman has felt pain during intercourse, she often becomes tense in sexual situations. Without knowing it, she may tighten the muscles just inside the entrance of the vagina. This makes intercourse even more painful. Sometimes she clenches her muscles so tightly that her partner cannot even enter her vagina.
You can become aware of your vaginal muscles and learn to relax them during intercourse. Exercises that teach control of the vaginal muscles are called Kegels, and practicing Kegels can help you decrease pain during intercourse.
If intercourse is painful and difficult, you or your partner can stretch your vagina with a finger before you try penetration. Lubricate a finger and slowly slip it inside your vagina. Use the Kegel movements to tighten and release your vaginal muscles as you slowly move it deeper in. When one finger is no longer painful, try using two fingers, and then three, before you try your partner's penis. Remember to use plenty of lubrication, and go slowly.
If you try most of these ideas but are still having genital pain, you may need some help from a gynecologist or sex therapist. There are also vaginal dilators in different sizes that are available for purchase, but please talk with your doctor about this---I am not sure about their safety and health benefits/consequences.
Comment Reply
Pam,
Have you talked with your OB/GYN or another health care provider about your pain during intercourse? There are several possible "causes" for painful intercourse, and you may want to rule out any medical causes.
MedlinePlus article suggests: if you are going through menopause and lubricants don't work, talk to your doctor about estrogen creams or other prescription medications.
Other options:
You and your partner may be able to minimize pain with a few changes in your sexual routine:
* Switch positions and try different positions
* Communicate. Talk about what feels good and what doesn't. If you need your partner to go slow, say so.
* Make sure you feel very aroused before you start intercourse. It is only when you are highly excited that your vagina expands to its fullest length and width. As women go through menopause, it may take a longer time and more touching to get fully aroused.
* Use lubricants. A water-based lubricant, such as K-Y jelly or Astroglide. If intercourse lasts more than a few minutes, you may need to stop briefly and smooth on some extra lubricant. Put lubrication on your partner's penis and on your vagina.
* Vaginal Moisturizers. Replens and Lubrin are vaginal moisturizers that you can use 2 or 3 times weekly to help keep your vagina moist and at a more normal pH. Their effects last longer than those of lubricants, and you can buy them without a prescription. Vitamin E gel caps can also be used as a vaginal moisturizer. With vaginal moisturizers, you can still use gel lubricant around the vulva or on the penis if needed. Talk with your doctor before using any new products!
]]>Medications and therapies]]>
* Treating underlying conditions. If an infection or medical condition is contributing to your pain, treating the underlying cause may resolve your problem
* Medications. In some cases, your doctor may suggest an oral prescription pain medication or injections of pain medications into the site of the pain.
* Desensitization therapy. During this therapy, you learn vaginal relaxation exercises that can decrease pain. Your therapist may recommend pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises) or other techniques to decrease pain with intercourse.
* Counseling or sex therapy. If sex has been painful for a long time, you may experience a negative emotional response to sexual stimulation even after treatment. If you and your partner have avoided intimacy because of painful intercourse, you may also need help improving communication with your partner and restoring sexual intimacy. Talking to a counselor or sex therapist can help resolve these issues. You can find a therapist in your area: http://www.aasect.org/default.asp
Relaxing the Vaginal Muscles and Kegel Exercises
Once a woman has felt pain during intercourse, she often becomes tense in sexual situations. Without knowing it, she may tighten the muscles just inside the entrance of the vagina. This makes intercourse even more painful. Sometimes she clenches her muscles so tightly that her partner cannot even enter her vagina.
You can become aware of your vaginal muscles and learn to relax them during intercourse. Exercises that teach control of the vaginal muscles are called Kegels, and practicing Kegels can help you decrease pain during intercourse.
If intercourse is painful and difficult, you or your partner can stretch your vagina with a finger before you try penetration. Lubricate a finger and slowly slip it inside your vagina. Use the Kegel movements to tighten and release your vaginal muscles as you slowly move it deeper in. When one finger is no longer painful, try using two fingers, and then three, before you try your partner's penis. Remember to use plenty of lubrication, and go slowly.
If you try most of these ideas but are still having genital pain, you may need some help from a gynecologist or sex therapist. There are also vaginal dilators in different sizes that are available for purchase, but please talk with your doctor about this---I am not sure about their safety and health benefits/consequences.
Does any of this information help?
July 8, 2008 - 2:09pmThis Comment
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