Why Do Some Women Have Pain During Intercourse?

Symptoms of Pain During Intercourse in Women

There are different types of pain and discomfort included in the umbrella of pain during intercourse. These include:

• Pain when penetrated (this may occur only during sexual intercourse, or you may also feel pain when using a tampon or other menstrual product).
• A deep-set pain, burning, or aching during intercourse.
• Throbbing pain that may last for minutes to hours after intimacy.
• Vaginal dryness that leads to discomfort during intercourse.

Pain during intercourse is often accompanied by other signs of female sexual dysfunction, or FSD. In addition to pain, you may feel:

• An inability to reach orgasm.
• Low sex drive or libido.
• An inability to maintain sex drive during intimacy, even if you felt like being intimate at the beginning.

All of these symptoms combined can make intimacy an uncomfortable and stressful experience. Unfortunately, emotional distress can cause muscle tension, which can make pain and discomfort during intercourse worse – creating an unpleasant cycle.

Fortunately, there are treatments and steps women who have pain during intimacy can take to ease their discomfort.  We’ll cover several more common causes of painful intercourse and which treatments to try based on the cause. If you’re experiencing pain, a consultation with an experienced medical provider is your best option to determine the cause(s) and a treatment plan for you.

Other Causes and Treatments for Pain During Intercourse in Women

There are other potential causes for painful intercourse. It’s important to note whether the pain is new and acute (happening for a short period of time) or a longstanding issue. It’s also important to see if factors around intimacy may be causing the discomfort.

Painful intercourse may be caused by:

• A lack of lubrication. This can lead to vaginal dryness that makes sex uncomfortable. Incorporating more foreplay or a safe, water-based lubrication product may help with this issue. You may also want to consider medication that can help increase pleasure topically or boost overall libido for a more enjoyable and heightened experience. If vaginal dryness is caused by a hormone deficiency, hormone restoration can also help alleviate this type of discomfort.
• An injury or irritation. If the pain is new and sharp, injury or inflammation may be the cause. If new pain like this occurs, it’s important to go to your doctor for a check-up. It’s also advisable to wait a couple of weeks before attempting intercourse again, to see if the pain and irritation heal.
• An undiagnosed STD. If you’re experiencing new and unusual pain during intercourse, an STD may be the culprit. If you are sexually active, it’s crucial to regularly test for common STDs to protect your health and the health of your partner(s).
• An ongoing condition. Sometimes vaginal discomfort during intercourse is caused by a chronic condition like scarring from a previous surgery, pelvic inflammatory disease, a congenital illness, endometriosis, and others. Diagnosing and managing the condition is the best way to manage the pain. You may also look into a therapy like Platelet Rich Plasma injections for Vaginal Rejuvenation.
• Emotional factors. Intimacy is often closely linked to emotion. Anxiety, stress, and conflict can lead to muscle tension, which can make sex less enjoyable and potentially painful. If you suspect emotions play a part in pain during intercourse, it’s important to work through issues with your partner and/or attend therapy individually to process stress and trauma. You may also look into integrative treatments like Ketamine Therapy to help you manage anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues.