Pain during intercourse can take what should be a beautiful experience and make it unpleasant to the extreme – even hateful. In the extreme circumstance or any other condition which seems excessively abnormal, a physician should be consulted to make sure there are no serious physical damage.
Since a woman plays a major part of the whole reproduction process from the formation of the ova till giving birth to the child, painful intercourse could be a difficult stage for you to pass. In medical terms, it is known as dyspareunia that leads to tearing, ripping, burning or aching sensation during penetration. This pain could occur at the vaginal opening or deep in the pelvis or anywhere else in between. This could also be felt throughout the pelvic area and sexual organs.
Reasons for pain during intercourse
1. The most common reason for irritation during intercourse is insufficient lubrication or arousal that could create a vicious circle. Women having a hysterectomy or mastectomy can also face this problem with arousal because of the feeling of incompleteness. This can be treated with prompt and proper consultation whereby the physician provides you with lubrication methods that in turn will reduce discomfort.
2. Another factor for painful intercourse is thinning and drying of vaginal tissues when menopause begins amongst women. This occurs due to less production of the estrogen hormone that is needed to maintain moist vaginal tissue. As the ability of the vagina to make its own mucus tissues declines it becomes dry, itchy and painful leading to pain during intercourse.
3. Unintentional muscle spasms of the thighs, pelvis and vagina can also make penetration impossible and this stage is known as vaginismus that could develop or be intensified by the previously mentioned factors or due to psychological factors. A victim of traumatic sexual experience or rape can also lead to vaginismus and as such counseling can help a lot.
4. The most serious reasons for painful intercourse is 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, 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. It is always wise to seek the advice of a doctor to be cleared of any medical complications.
