Painful Sex In Women

The pain one may feel during or after s*xual interc0urse is called dyspareunia. It is not a condition in itself but is caused by medical conditions or psychosocial problems.
Pain during or after sex (dyspareunia) can be caused by many things, such as:
illness
infection
a physical problem
a psychological problem
If you get pain during or after sex, your body may be trying to tell you something is wrong, so don't ignore it. See your GP or go to a s*xual health (genitourinary medicine or GUM) clinic.

Dyspareunia is almost exclusive to women, but it also affects men in rare cases. It is not uncommon for women to feel pain during interc0urse; although true dyspareunia in women frequently occurs along with vaginismus, a condition that causes the vag!nal muscles to tense up during penetration.

It may result from abnormal conditions of the gen!talia, dysfunctional psychophysiologic reaction to s*xual union, forcible coition, or incomplete s*xual ar0usal.

Dyspareunia is also associated with hormonal changes of menopause and lactation that result in drying of the vag!nal tissues and with endometriosis, which may result in painful adhesions around the vag!na and ligaments, decreasing their flexibility during interc0urse.

What are the causes of dyspareunia? Any part of the gen!tals can cause pain during sex. Some conditions affect the skin around the vag!na. The pain from these conditions is usually felt when a tampon or pen!s is inserted into the vag!na, but pain can also occur even when sitting or wearing pants.

Inflammation or infection may be the cause; such as a yeast infection, urinary tract infection or inflammation of the vag!na. Injury to the vag!na and the surrounding area can also cause pain. If a diaphragm or cervical cap not fit correctly, sex may also be painful.

Intercourse pain, or dyspareunia, can cause problems in a couple's s*xual relationship. In addition to the physically painful sex, there is also the possibility of negative emotional effects. So the problem should be addressed as soon as it arises.

What Causes Painful Sex in Women? In many cases, a woman can experience painful sex if there is not sufficient vag!nal lubrication. When this occurs, the pain can be resolved if the female becomes more relaxed, if the amount of f0replay is increased, or if the couple uses a s*xual lubr!cant. In some cases, a woman can experience painful sex if one of the following conditions is present:

Vaginismus. This is a common condition. It involves an involuntary spasm in the vag!nal muscles, mainly caused by fear of being hurt. Vag!nal infections. These conditions are common and include yeast infections.

Problems with the cervix (opening to the uterus). In this case, the pen!s can reach the cervix at maximum penetration. So problems with the cervix (such as infections) can cause pain during deep penetration. Problems with the uterus. These problems may include fibroids that can cause deep intercourse pain.

Endometriosis. This is a condition in which the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside the uterus.

Problems with the ovaries. Problems might include cysts on the ovaries. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). With PID, the tissues deep inside become badly inflamed and the pressure of interc0urse causes deep pain.

Ectopic pregnancy. This is a pregnancy in which a fertilized egg develops outside the uterus.

Insufficient lubrication. This is often the result of not enough foreplay. Insufficient lubrication is also commonly caused by a drop in estrogen levels after menopause, after childbirth or during brea*st-feeding. Certain medications are known to inhibit desire or aroussal, which can decrease lubrication and make sex painful. These include antidepressants, high blood pressure medications, sedatives, antihistamines and certain birth control pills.

Menopause. With menopause, the vaginal lining can lose its normal moisture and become dry. Intercourse too soon after surgery or childbirth. S*xually transmitted diseases. These may include gen!tal warts, herpes sores, or other STDs. Injury to the vulva or vag!na. These injuries may include a tear from childbirth or from a cut (episiotomy) made in the area of skin between the vag!na and anus during labour.

Some causes of painful sex for men are:

Infections like thrush, which can cause soreness and itching, and some STIs, such as herpes if the foreskin is tight, penetration can be painful as the foreskin is pushed back small tears in the foreskin that can't be seen but cause soreness and a sharp, stinging pain around the tear inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis)
Testicle pain and swelling can sometimes be caused by getting s*xually ar0used but not ejaculating (coming). It can also be a sign of an infection, such as chlamydia.

How Can Painful Sex In Women Be Treated? Some treatments for painful sex in women do not require medical treatment. For example, painful sex after pregnancy can be addressed by waiting at least six weeks after childbirth before having interc0urse. Make sure to practice gentleness and patience. In cases in which there is vag!nal dryness or a lack of lubrication, try water-based lubricants.

How Can Painful Sex In Women Be Treated?  Some treatments for female s*xual pain do require a doctor's care. If vag!nal dryness is due to menopause, ask a health care professional about estrogen creams or other prescription medications. Other causes of painful interc0urse may also require prescription drugs.

For cases of s*xual pain in which there is no underlying medical cause, s*xual therapy might be helpful. Some individuals may need to resolve issues such as guilt, inner conflicts regarding sex, or feelings regarding past abuse.

Call a doctor if there are symptoms such as bleeding, gen!tal lesions, irregular periods, vag!nal discharge, or involuntary vag!nal muscle contractions. If you have pain, unusual discharge, itchiness or soreness around your gen!tals, they may recommend treatment for thrush or having an STI test. If your vag!na is dry, you may be advised to try using a lubricating product. Remember to use a water-based product if you’re using c0ndoms, because oil-based lubricants can damage them and make them ineffective

A sex therapist may be able to help

Via Webmd, Mnt