Sexual health: 5 common cause of painful s*x

Having sex should not feel like a task. It shouldn’t make you feel scared, nervous or uncomfortable, nor should it cause pain.

A sexual intercourse should be pleasurable and not painful. If it is in fact painful or discomforting, it can mean a lot of things.

Some causes can be physical, while others can be psychological. Irrespective of what the cause is, painful sex should not be ignored.

Let’s take a look at some of the common causes of painful sex.

Vaginal dryness is when there is not enough lubrication in the vagina. It occurs when the tissues in your vagina are dry, thin and not well-moisturized, explains Cleveland Clinic. This can make penetrative sex quite discomforting and painful. It is commonly linked to menopause, decrease in hormones (estrogen), breastfeeding and certain medications.​

Vaginismus is a type of sexual dysfunction, in which the vaginal muscles tighten up on their own due to the fear of penetration. It involves tensing of the vagina and unintentional muscle spasms that cause pain. Regardless of what’s being inserted into the vagina, including a penis, finger, tampon or medical instrument, pain is most likely to occur in case of vaginismus.

Yeast or bacterial infections such as bacterial vaginosis, can cause irritation of the vulvar or vaginal tissues, leading to immediate pain with sex. Skin conditions such as squamous hyperplasia or lichen sclerosus can also damage and irritate the vulvar skin, making it painful to touch. If you have sex with yeast infection, it can be very painful or extremely uncomfortable. With a swollen labia and vulva, skin-to-skin contact can be discomforting.

Vulvodynia is a persistent, unexplained pain in the vulva, as per the UK National Health Services (NHS). Also known as vulval pain, it can occur in women of all ages. Apart from leading to painful sex, it can lead to burning, stinging, throbbing or sore pain. Furthermore, it can be triggered by touch, such as during sex or when inserting a tampon. The pain can get worse when sitting down.

Endometriosis is a disorder in which the tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus grows outside the uterus. Women with endometriosis can also experience painful pelvic or lower abdominal discomfort. Other symptoms can range from dysmenorrhea, which is painful menstrual periods, lower back pain, pain during intercourse to infertility.