Recent studies suggest more than 60 percent of women have had occurrences of discomfort or pain during sexual intercourse. Also called dyspareunia, it happens in the genital area or deep inside the pelvis. It’s often described as burning, sharp or akin to menstrual cramps.
Unfortunately many women keep this to themselves. There are numerous ways to treat this problem. Often it just depends on what’s causing the pain. Some treatments for sexual pain require a doctor. Others do not.
First, rule out any serious medical conditions. Discomfort or pain during sex can be a sign of a health issue, so visit your doctor. Sometimes simply switching medications or treating an infection can relieve the pain.
In many cases, women experience painful sex when there isn’t enough vaginal lubrication. Water-based lubricant in the form of a cream, jelly or suppository can make sex more comfortable.
If vaginal dryness comes from menopause, talk with your doctor. For most postmenopausal women, inadequate lubrication results from low estrogen levels. Often, this can be treated with a prescription estrogen cream, tablet or vaginal ring.
Try changing your hygiene routine. Don’t douche. Avoid scented bath products as they can irritate the genital area and impair natural lubrication.
In the case of painful sex after pregnancy, wait at least six weeks after childbirth before resuming sexual intercourse. Water-based lubricants may also help.
Experiment with new sexual positions. A sharp pain during thrusting could be the penis hitting the cervix or stressing the pelvic floor muscles, causing aching or cramping pain. Changing positions may help.
Longer foreplay and stimulation can help with natural lubrication. Delaying penetration until full aroused may reduce pain.
Other causes of painful intercourse may require prescription drugs, like antibiotics or painkillers, or rarely, surgery.
Communicate with your partner. Talk about what arouses you and the problems you’re having with sex. Many times, the two of you can work on it and solve the issue.
Therapy is another option to treat painful sex. Desensitization therapy teaches vaginal relaxation exercises that can decrease pain. A therapist may recommend pelvic floor exercises like Kegel exercises, or other techniques to decrease the pain.
Talking to a counselor or sex therapist may improve relations with your partner and restore sexual intimacy. Some women may need to resolve issues such as guilt, internal conflicts or past abuse.
See a doctor for symptoms such as bleeding, genital lesions, irregular periods, vaginal discharge, or involuntary vaginal muscle contractions. Your doctor may also provide a referral to a certified sex counselor or therapist.
Sources:
FamilyDoctor.org
WebMD.com
MayoClinic.com
NIH.gov