Treatments for vulvodynia may include medications, pelvic physical therapy, and psychotherapy. Although it may be unclear where vulvodynia originates, even sitting may be painful. Vulvodynia is a condition characterized by chronic pain around the opening of the vagina. Yeast infections: A yeast infection, caused by an excess of the fungus candida, can also make sex uncomfortable, as your labia and vagina may be sore and swollen.Urinary tract infections (UTIs): Urinary tract infections can cause inflammation of your urethra and your bladder, which can lead to pain during external stimulation and during any penetration, says Kirstin Mitchell, MRC/CSO, a professor of public health at the University of Glasgow.Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): Infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause internal vaginal irritation, while herpes can cause sores on the vulva that may be painful during sex.There are many different kinds of infections that can cause pain in the vaginal area. There are many reasons sex may be painful for women, including emotional and relationship difficulties and issues with your vagina or diseases that cause pelvic pain. 2018 doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2018.07.016.Pain during sex is a widespread problem – in a 2012 survey, nearly a third of women reported that they felt pain during their most recent vaginal sex with a man. Efficacy of intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) for symptomatic women in the peri- or postmenopausal phase. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: Management strategies for the clinician. Differential diagnosis of sexual pain in women. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You might start avoiding sexual intercourse if you associate it with the pain. Initial pain can lead to fear of recurring pain, making it difficult to relax, which can lead to more pain.
It can be difficult to tell whether emotional factors are associated with dyspareunia. Not everyone with dyspareunia has a history of sexual abuse, but if you have been abused, it can play a role. This can contribute to pain during intercourse. Your pelvic floor muscles tend to tighten in response to stress in your life. Anxiety, depression, concerns about your physical appearance, fear of intimacy or relationship problems can contribute to a low level of arousal and a resulting discomfort or pain. Medical treatments for cancer, such as radiation and chemotherapy, can cause changes that make sex painful.Įmotions are deeply intertwined with sexual activity, so they might play a role in sexual pain. Scarring from pelvic surgery, including hysterectomy, can cause painful intercourse. The list includes endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine prolapse, retroverted uterus, uterine fibroids, cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic floor dysfunction, adenomyosis, hemorrhoids and ovarian cysts. A problem present at birth, such as the absence of a fully formed vagina (vaginal agenesis) or development of a membrane that blocks the vaginal opening (imperforate hymen), could cause dyspareunia.ĭeep pain usually occurs with deep penetration. These involuntary spasms of the muscles of the vaginal wall can make penetration painful.
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Eczema or other skin problems in your genital area also can be the problem. An infection in your genital area or urinary tract can cause painful intercourse. Inflammation, infection or skin disorder.This includes injury or irritation from an accident, pelvic surgery, female circumcision or a cut made during childbirth to enlarge the birth canal (episiotomy).
These include antidepressants, high blood pressure medications, sedatives, antihistamines and certain birth control pills. A drop in estrogen levels after menopause or childbirth or during breast-feeding also can be a cause.Ĭertain medications are known to affect sexual desire or arousal, which can decrease lubrication and make sex painful. This is often the result of not enough foreplay. Pain during penetration might be associated with a range of factors, including: Emotional factors might be associated with many types of painful intercourse. Physical causes of painful intercourse differ, depending on whether the pain occurs at entry or with deep thrusting. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Causes