Pain during intercourse or dyspareunia is recurring pain in the genital area during intercourse. It is a treatable pain that is more common in women than men. The pain is sharp and intense and can be unbearable. It can occur at any time, before, after or during intercourse.
What is dyspareunia?
Anyone can experience dyspareunia, but it is more common in postmenopausal women. Factors that can trigger dyspareunia include:
• Relationship problems
• Conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease, arthritis and cancer
• Stress can cause tight pelvic floor muscles
• Fear, shame or guilt related to sex
• Self-image or body issues
• Medications such as birth control pills
• History of sexual abuse or rape
What are the symptoms?
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Uterine fibroids
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Radiation and chemotherapy
• Yeast or urinary tract infection
• Childbirth, accident, episiotomy, hysterectomy or pelvic surgery
• Pain during intercourse
• Vaginal dryness from menopause, childbirth, breastfeeding, medications or lack of sexual arousal before intercourse
• Pain during every insertion, including inserting a tampon
• Skin conditions that cause ulcers, cracks, itching or burning
• Deep pain during penetration
• Vaginitis or inflammation of the vagina
• Endometriosis
• Cystitis
• Genital burning or soreness
• Severe pain that lasts for hours after intercourse.
What are the causes of dyspareunia?
1. Vulvodynia: This is a chronic pain condition that affects the female vulva area (including the labia, clitoris and vaginal opening). The pain may occur in just one area or may affect different areas each time.
2. Endometriosis: Endometriosis is when tissue similar to the endometrium grows outside the uterus
3. Pelvic inflammatory disease: In this condition, deep tissues become severely inflamed and the pressure of sexual intercourse can cause severe pain.
4. Ectopic pregnancy: A pregnancy in which the fertilized egg develops outside the uterus. This can cause genital pain.
5. Vulvar or vaginal injury: This injury can be caused by tearing during childbirth or an episiotomy performed on the skin area between the vagina and anus when the baby is born.
6. Vaginismus: This is one of the common causes of dyspareunia. This is mainly due to the fear of injury, which causes the vagina to spasm involuntarily.
7. STDs: Diseases transmitted through unsafe sex and related reasons can also cause genital pain
8. Cervical infection: This can cause pain during deep insertion.
9. Infections and skin diseases: Skin problems near the vagina and bacterial and yeast infections can also cause severe pain.
9. Menopause: Menopause can cause the cervix to dry out and cause pain, sometimes
10. Postpartum sex: Having sex soon after giving birth may cause vaginal pain.
11. Cysts: Ovarian or uterine cyst disease may cause pain.
12. Uterine fibroids: Uterine fibroids can cause pain in the genital area.
13. Congenital abnormalities: Vaginal problems that have been present since birth may cause pain in the vaginal area of a woman&39;s body.
14. Medical procedures and surgeries: Many medical procedures can cause dyspareunia. These procedures include hysterectomy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
15. Other diseases: Various other diseases such as uterine prolapse, retroverted uterus, uterine fibroids, irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic floor dysfunction, adenomyosis, hemorrhoids can cause unbearable pain during intercourse
How to prevent dyspareunia?
• Avoid unprotected sex.
• Prevent STDs.
• Encourage natural vaginal lubrication and provide enough time for stimulation.
• Do not resume sexual intercourse soon after delivery.
• Use water-soluble lubricants when the vagina becomes dry.
• Maintain proper hygiene.
• Get regular medical checkups.
How to treat dyspareunia?
1. Medication
Medications include:
• Topical or injected corticosteroids
• Antibiotics
• Antifungal drugs
• Creams, tablets, etc. that increase estrogen.
• Painkillers
2. Water-soluble lubricants
3. Counseling
4, Desensitization therapy
These therapies include various vaginal relaxation exercises.
5. Home remedies
• Use a relaxed position or a different position each time you have sex.
• Communicate with your partner and let them know about your problem.
• Allow some time for foreplay and promote natural lubrication and stimulation.
• Empty your bladder before intercourse.
• If you feel pain in the vulva area, apply an ice pack to it.
• Take a warm bath before sex.
