5 Reasons Why You Are Experiencing Painful Sex

Painful sex is not something that everyone hears regularly. However, evidence shows that there could be several reasons behind painful sex. Keep reading if you want to find out the 5 reasons why you are experiencing painful sex.

  1. Your skin may be too sensitive or inflamed

Penetrative sex is when the skin of another person causes friction with your own. This is normally not painful as long as both parties are properly lubricated.

However, if you have vulvar dermatitis, your skin around the vagina may be so sensitive that penetrative sex becomes painful.

Vulvar dermatitis also usually causes the skin around your vagina to be easily irritated or inflamed, and this could cause penetrative sex even more painful.

Besides, vaginismus may cause your vaginal muscles to be shut tightly, resulting in a painful intercourse.

Other reasons triggering skin sensitivity are genital irritation and allergies. Adverse reaction to latex, according to a publication on the National Hospital Services website, could force your skin to cringe during intimacy.

People who have eczema around the vaginal skin are more likely to suffer from vulvar dermatitis.

Also, external irritants like soap with heavy chemicals, rough toilet paper or clothing, as well as creams and powders can all cause vulvar dermatitis.

If you are struggling with this condition for a long time, and especially when sex becomes troublesome, you need to talk to your doctor. Some medicine may be prescribed to lessen the symptoms.

  1. A lack of arousal

Sex should not be painful. Any notion that goes against that is practically wrong. Sex should be easy and satisfying.

And in order to have such an experience, your vagina should be well-lubricated. If your vagina is dry, painful sex is almost a given. And this is not something that you should endure.

You should really get to the bottom of it to change your experience with sex. A dry vagina usually happens when a woman is lacking arousal. Maybe your partner is just too quick to jump into the main act.

Women usually take longer than men to get adequately sexually aroused and wet. So, what you need to do instead is tell your partner to slow down and enjoy the moment. There is no button to just switch you on.

You need to be seduced and caressed during foreplay, and get passionate kissing and explore each other body before getting to the main act.

  1. Menopause causes a lack of libido

If you are already in your menopausal period, you could indeed be dealing with a lack of libido. This is all due to hormonal changes. As such, your sex hormones may be reduced and this means your libido is also hit hard.

Of course, without a high level of libido (or sex drive) your body's natural lubrication may be low. The female sex hormone, estrogen is responsible for lubrication.

But as menopause sets in, its secretion dwindles. Without this hormone, vaginal wetness fails, resulting in painful penetration and intercourse.

According to a Mayo Clinic publication, the withering of the vaginal lining and onset of lichen sclerosis due to menopause, coupled with poor lubrication could prevent arousal.

When this happens, your vagina stays dry even after a long time of foreplay. This then makes penetrative sex quite painful.

If this is the case with you, you need to consult your doctor. Your doctor will run some checks on you and then prescribe medication or supplements that can help balance the hormones inside.

Other than addressing this hormonal issue, you can also use lube to help ease things around down there. Try to choose a lube that is water-based for greater comfort.

  1. You have an STI

On a more serious note, painful sex can also be the result of a sexually transmitted infection. Some common sexually transmitted infections that could cause painful sex are chlamydia and gonorrhea.

These infections can be passed around through sexual contact and can be quite dangerous if left untreated. You should immediately get a doctor’s assistance if you have a sexually transmitted infection that causes sex to be painful.

Other than this type of sexually transmitted infection, you could also be dealing with a urinary tract infection, which the latter is not an STI.

If you have UTI, over-the-counter medication can help get rid of it within days to weeks.

At any rate, infections are all unpleasant and could even be dangerous, so you should not be embarrassed to get the help of a medical professional to resolve your painful sex concerns. After all, sex should always be pleasant.

  1. You are suffering from chronic vulvar pain (vulvodynia)

Chronic vulvar pain is a type of syndrome that doesn’t have a clear cause. Or at least experts are still baffled by it. Chronic vulvar pain is also called vulvodynia and is depicted as chronic pain around the vulva.

The vulva is the skin outside of your vagina and when you have chronic vulvar pain, this area often feels painful.

The symptoms of this condition could be widespread. It may include numbing sensation around the vulva. Penetration and inserting of tampon may trigger it.

According to the National Hospital Services website, vulvodynia could also involve distressing periods, and interstitial cystitis. It becomes worse when you seat down as any form of pressure induces the pain.

Common pains include a sensation of throbbing, burning, itching, stinging even, and a feeling of rawness to the skin. Due to limited understanding of the causes of chronic vulvar pain, this skin condition is considered a disorder.

If you suspect you may have this skin disorder, you need to immediately get yourself checked by your OBGYN.

Some tests will try to see and remove the possible causes of chronic vulvar pain and some other possible ailments. Nerve blockers and therapy are usually recommended after a test has been done.

To summarize, painful sex can be a significant issue for people who only want to experience the feelings of sex. Reflecting on these reasons can help you figure out your problem, and you can seek answers to your issue.


Familiarizing Ourselves With The Female Sexual Organs

Sex is a two-way activity which is enjoyed by both the parties. Just like how we want to familiarize ourselves with the male anatomy, it is equally essential to know about the female sex organs and their role in sexual intercourse.

External Sex Organs of the Female Body

The female sexual organs are situated both inside and outside of the body. The main objective of these external organs is to allow the sperm to enter the body and also help in preventing infections and other harmful diseases to damage the internal organs. The external organs in the female reproductive system comprised of the following:

Labia majora and minora: The labia majora acts as a protective shield over the other external organs of the body. It is shaped in the form of large fleshy lips. In an adult woman, this organ is covered with hair and contains oil-secreting glands and sweat. Labia minora is situated inside the labia majora surrounding the vaginal opening.

Bartholin’s Glands – The main function of these glands is to help in producing fluids for secretion. These are situated just beside the opening in the vagina.

Clitoris – A clitoris is very sensitive and can be easily stimulated leading orgasm in a woman. This is a small sensitive protrusion that joins the labia majora and more at the center. It is similar to the penis in men.

Internal Sexual Organs of the Female Body

Now that we are familiar with the external organs, let us look into the internal sexual organs. All these organs play a very vital role in the reproduction process and any damage to these can cause a negative impact on your sexual life.

Oviduct – This is commonly known as the fallopian tubes or egg tubes. As the name itself suggests, these are vessels that help in transporting the female eggs to the uterus. The fallopian tube consists of tiny hairs known as cilia that help in the smooth transition of the eggs. The ovaries in the body are connected to these tubes.

Ovaries and the Uterus – Every woman is gifted with undeveloped female eggs, commonly known as ova. These eggs get stored in almond-shaped organs known as ovaries and are released every month during menstruation. The main function of the uterus is to help in holding the fertilized eggs and nurture them till the gestation period is over.

Cervix – The cervix acts as a barrier between the vagina and the uterus. When a woman is pregnant, the cervix helps in holding the baby in place. During labor or birth, the cervix expands allowing the baby to pass through.

Vagina and Sexual Arousal

The vagina is connected to the cervix and the outer body of the woman. Here is where the penis is inserted during sexual intercourse. When sexually aroused, the vagina begins to lubricate, thereby secreting fluids through the vaginal walls.

During sex, there is an increase in the blood flow, which makes the clitoris harden and swell slightly leading to mind-blowing orgasms in women. Women take a long time to reach orgasm when compared to men. This requires a lot of concentration and patience on the part of men to make their partners reach orgasm.