Sex Is Painful: Can You Help?

Having a healthy sex life has numerous benefits, including keeping you close to your partner, relieving stress, boosting your immune system, and helping you sleep better. Plus, the more you have sex, the better it gets.

Unfortunately, about three-quarters of women experience painful sex at some point in their life. For some, it’s a short-term experience, but for others, painful sex is a long-term issue. 

At Mira Women’s Health & Midwifery in Boca Raton, Florida, board-certified OB/GYNs Kenneth Konsker, MD, and Emily Woodbury, MD, and our expert women’s health team, can help you figure out what’s causing dyspareunia, the medical term for painful sex, and recommend the best, most effective and safest treatment option to help you enjoy sex and intimacy again. 

What causes painful sex?

Women can experience painful sex at any sexually active time in their lives, but it’s most common in women post-menopause. The average age of menopause is 51. 

As women transition to menopause, their ovaries produce less estrogen. This lack of estrogen can lead to thin, dry vaginal walls, which can make sex painful and irritating. However, younger women may experience dyspareunia as well, but usually for reasons different than post-menopausal women. 

There are a variety of causes for this widespread issue. The most common include:

Sexually transmitted infections (STI)

Women have a higher risk of contracting an STI through unprotected sex than men. As a result, more than 9 million women are diagnosed with an STI every year. STIs such as genital warts, chlamydia, and gonorrhea can cause irritation and painful sex.

Vaginal infections

Yeast infections are not considered an STI, but you can get one through sex. Symptoms of these common infections, along with other types of vaginal inflammation or infections, include vaginal irritation, itchiness, burning, discharge, and pain during sex.

Injury or trauma

Women who experience vaginal tears during childbirth can experience painful sex if their injury is not healed sufficiently. Additionally, women can experience a tear through shaving, aggressive sex, and sex without sufficient lubrication.

Insufficient foreplay or lack of desire

Women need sufficient foreplay to become aroused and generate enough lubrication to facilitate sexual intercourse. Without sufficient arousal or interest, a woman’s vaginal walls remain dry. 

How to treat painful sex and have a fulfilling sex life

The first step to treating dyspareunia is to determine the cause. Fortunately, there are many ways to treat vaginal dryness and painful sex. A healthy sex life, for most, is vital to a healthy relationship, positive self-image, and overall well-being. 

At Mira Women’s Health & Midwifery, our compassionate health professionals will conduct a physical and pelvic exam, take a medical history, and perform other tests as needed. 

Treatment options include:

• Stress and relaxation practices
• Silicone or water-based lubricants
• Topical or transdermal estrogen for perimenopausal or post-menopausal women
• Trying different sex positions
• Sex therapy or counseling
• Antibiotics for an STI or infection
• Over-the-counter pain relievers

No one needs to endure painful sex. The right treatment option can ensure that you have a healthy and pain-free sex life.

If you’re experiencing painful sex, don’t suffer in silence. Call Mira Women’s Health & Midwifery to make an appointment or request one online. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.