When Painful Sex Plays a Spoilsport

“It is a common misconception that women suffering from pain during sex dislike sex altogether. In fact, many women with this condition enjoy closeness with their partners. But the enjoyment ceases when penetration is attempted or suggested,” says Dr David Delvin, a GP and family planning specialist and Christine Webber, a psychotherapist.

Experiencing pain during sexual intercourse is a fairly common problem encountered by as many as 2 out of every 3 women worldwide. But since sex is meant to be an enjoyable experience, pain can ruin the very essence of this three letter magic word. Themedguru.com helps you find out how…

The pain that a woman goes through during an intercourse is medically termed as dyspareunia. This pain can vary from being extremely severe to mild. You can safely ignore one remote episode of pain during intercourse, but if the pain persists and keeps reoccurring at every other instance, get some help before it is too late.

Reason for Experiencing the Pain

In order to understand, why pain occurs during an intercourse, it is of primary importance that we get an insight into the physical changes that accompany sex. When a woman is aroused, her vagina and vulva get moist and the muscles of the opening of her vagina relax. The clitoris then swells or enlarges. This is followed by the lifting up of the uterusdefine, and eventually the vagina gets deeper and wider.

This is how the vagina prepares itself for a male to enter. If any part of this natural pattern does not happen, a feeling of discomfort or pain is observed.

The Emotional Side

Often the pain might have an emotional side rather than a physical explanation to it. Several emotional factors such as memories or phobias can keep a woman from enjoying and relaxing during the sexual experience. Emotionally speaking, women might experience trouble if they:
• feel guilty of having sex
• are scared of getting pregnant
• are scared of getting affected by a sexually transmitted disease (STDdefine)
• have been a victim of a bad past sexual experience such as a rape or a sexual abuse
• have problems with their partners

In cases like these, the solution to the problem lies in counseling. It might be a good idea to talk about your concerns with your partner and in certain cases an experienced counselor.

Understanding Pain

There are different types of pains associated with sex depending on their place of origin. And the solution to the problem also lies in identifying its origin.

1. Vulvar Pain

Such pain occurs when the vulva is tender or gets highly irritated from using soaps or over the counter vaginal sprays. Infections, scars or cysts in the vagina can also render the area sensitive.

2. Vaginal Pain

The most common reason attributed to painful sex is vaginal dryness or lack of moisture inside the vagina. Vaginal dryness can occur due to certain medication or simply because the female is not aroused enough. It can also be associated with certain life stages also such as post pregnancy, during or after menopause or while breast feeding.

If you are not experiencing enough arousal, talk to your partner about it and the two of you can together work upon methods that can heighten your arousal. Use of a cream, jelly or vaginal suppository to enhance vaginal lubrication can also help.

3. Vaginitis

Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina, which is accompanied with symptoms such as discharge, itching, and burning of the vagina and vulva. It may be triggered by a yeast or bacterial infection.
Medication in case of vagitinis can be administered orally or also be placed in the vagina.

4. Vaginismus

Vaginismus is a medical term used to denote contraction or a spasm of the muscles at the mouth of the vagina. It might result from

• A scar in the vagina resulting from an injury, child birth or surgery
• Allergy from douches or latex condom
• Infections of the valve or vagina
• Fear of getting pregnant
• Fear due to an unpleasant past sexual experience such as a rape or sexual abuse.

Infections and allergies can be effectively dealt with through medication but a surgery might be required in some cases. Counseling is the most effective solution for fears.

5. Deep Pain

Deep pain refers to the pain that is ignited by the penis touching the cervix. Such pain should ring an alarm of a greater internal problem, which could be any one of the following:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Problems with the uterus
• Endometriosis
• A pelvic mass
• Bowel or bladderdefine disease
• Scar tissue (adhesions)
• Ovarian cysts

To find a cure the doctor might suggest a laparoscopy, which can help get an insight into your reproductive organs and your abdomendefine. The doctor can then suggest a suitable cure.

6. Foreign body in the Vagina

A forgotten tampon is often the culprit for painful sex, especially if the tampon leads to an internal infection.

7. Size of Penis

Well, size does matter and if you have a well endowed partner, the chances that you will experience pain during an intercourse, are high. It is especially so, if you are not used to a large man, which in turn might increase your anxiety towards sex.

A recent invention called ‘Come Close’ can be of great help to counter this problem. It is in fact a cushioned ring that the man is required to wear at the base of his penis thus reducing the length that can enter his female partner.

There is no reason why you should put up with the pain and bid adieu to a pleasurable sexual experience. You too can have an amazingly satisfying libido provided you consult a doctor before it is too late.