Pain during Sex - Five Common Causes
Almost every woman experiences discomfort
during sex at some point in her life. But many suffer in silence
for years because they're embarrassed to ask for help or because
they've been told it's all in their heads. While sexual pain can
be a symptom of stress, depression, or some other psychological
problem, there are a number of physical conditions to rule out
before heading for the therapist's couch. See if any of the
following describes your problem.
Infection
Sometimes pain during sex is the first sign
of an infection. Vaginal yeast and bacterial infections can
reduce lubrication and irritate the opening of the vagina, and
will usually be accompanied by itching or an unusual discharge
or odor. A urinary tract infection will hurt most when you
urinate but can also cause pain during sex because of the
pressure on a tender, inflamed bladder. Abdominal pain with
intercourse may be a symptom of the sexually transmitted disease
chlamydia. Left untreated, chlamydia can lead to pelvic
inflammatory disease, which causes inflammation and scarring
that can make sex unbearable. Once diagnosed, most infections
are easily treated with antibiotics or, in the case of yeast,
antifungal creams or pills.
Endometriosis
About 5 million American women have this
painful condition in which tissue from the lining of the uterus
grows into areas outside of the uterus such as the vagina or
pelvis where it becomes inflamed. More than half of these women
report pain with intercourse. Endometriosis can usually be
treated with drugs that temporarily suppress estrogen production
or surgery to remove the wayward tissue. Birth control pills can
also help. Using the woman-on-top position or limiting
intercourse to the week or two after you menstruate may also
minimize the discomfort.
Interstitial Cystitis
When you feel as if you have a urinary tract
infection, but antibiotics won't make it go away, the problem is
probably interstitial cystitis. Experts don't know what triggers
this condition, in which your bladder becomes chronically
inflamed, leading to severe pelvic pain that tends to worsen
during sex. Like vulvodynia, this condition is difficult to
diagnose and treat. Sufferers may find relief from one of a
variety of treatments, such as the drug Elmiron, but no single
therapy seems to work for everyone. The woman-on-top position
may help you avoid the discomfort that comes with deep
penetration.
Vulvodynia
If burning pain at the opening of the vagina
has made sex impossible but your doctor can't find a cause, you
may have vulvodynia, a condition in which part of the vulva is
chronically inflamed. No one knows how many women suffer from it
or what first sets off the pain, which may be a constant torture
or may flare up just during sex. Experimental treatments include
cutting certain foods out of your diet or learning to use a
biofeedback device to control muscle spasms that may be
contributing to the pain. Surgery to remove the inflamed skin
has resolved the problem for some women, but should be
considered only as a last resort.
Hormones
If you're breastfeeding or approaching
menopause, your sexual discomfort may be due to hormonal
changes. In both cases, falling estrogen levels can dry up your
natural lubrication and make your vaginal tissue fragile. New
moms may want to use a drugstore lubricant until their estrogen
levels return to normal when they stop breastfeeding. Older
women with this complaint may consider going on hormone
replacement therapy or using an estrogen cream.
Ayurvedic Supplements :
To tune up muscles and tandem of the reproductive organ,
which are beneficial for prevention and relief of the above
symptoms :
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