Painful Sex And What You Can Do About It by Dr. Drai

Hello #MomentumLovers! I'm Dr. Drai a board-certified OBGYN, sexual health expert, and founder of Momentum Intimacy. Through my FDA-approved condom & lubricant line called Momentum, I help people improve their intimacy and have a more satisfying sex life.

Pain during intercourse is not an uncommon problem among women. In medical terms, painful sex is known as dyspareunia and can lead to tearing, ripping, burning, or aching sensation during penetration. This pain could occur anywhere from the vaginal opening to deep in the pelvis or anywhere in between. This pain may also be felt throughout the pelvic area and sexual organs.

Reasons for pain during intercourse

1. Insufficient lubrication
The most common reason for the irritation during intercourse is insufficient lubrication or arousal that could create a vicious cycle leading to fear about sex. Women having a hysterectomy or mastectomy can also face this problem with arousal because of the feeling of incompleteness. This could be treated with lubricants (Check out Momentum Intimacy premium line of lubricants and condoms HERE) and other measures that you should consult your doctor for.

2. Thinning and drying of vaginal tissue
Another factor for painful intercourse is the thinning and drying of vaginal tissues when menopause begins. This occurs due to less production of estrogen, a hormone needed to maintain vaginal tissue moisture. This can lead to dry, itchy, and painful intercourse.

3. Vaginismus
Unintentional muscle spasms of the thighs, pelvis, and vagina can also make penetration impossible. This is known as vaginismus and could develop from any of the above-mentioned factors or due to psychological factors. Traumatic sexual experiences or rape can also lead to vaginismus and as such counseling can be helpful.

4. Infection and Anatomical issues
The most common reasons for painful intercourse are vaginal, pelvic infection or boils or cysts and boils, tumors, scars or anything that narrows the vagina, uterine tissue growing outside the uterus with bleeding and pain, intact hymen, complications of any past surgery, and diseases such as diabetes that interfere with the physical process of arousal or orgasm.
Any of the factors due to less lubrication can be overcome with methods such as lubrication gels, estrogen creams, or estrogen replacement therapy in pills. Sex doesn’t have to be painful so be sure to consult your doctor for treatment.

Thank you for reading this #MomentumLovers! As always...I'm Dr. Drai a board-certified OBGYN, sexual health expert, and founder of Momentum Intimacy. Through my FDA-approved condom & lubricant line called Momentum, I help people improve their intimacy and have a more satisfying sex life.