What are the symptoms of pain during intercourse?
Pain during intercourse doesn’t have to be constant to be a sign of concern. Dyspareunia, the medical term for painful intercourse, may be diagnosed when you have any of the following:
- Pain at penetration, including inserting a tampon
- Deep pain during thrusting
- Throbbing pain that lasts for a while after intercourse
- Burning or aching
You may have pain at the point of entry, at the point of deep penetration, or pain that lingers after sex. Raise any of these problems with Dr. Hill. She can help get at the root of the issue causing your pain.
What are the causes of painful sexual intercourse?
Emotional factors, such as stress or a history of sexual abuse, can be reasons why you experience painful intercourse. Other reasons include:
- Poor lubrication due to inadequate foreplay or decreasing estrogen levels
- Injury or surgery
- Involuntary spasms of the vaginal wall, or vaginismus
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Uterine fibroids
- Uterine prolapse
- Ovarian cysts
At Suffolk County Medicine, Dr. Hill can evaluate your pain and its type and severity to help determine a cause. A thorough medical history review, pelvic exam, and possibly imaging tests help her determine what may be at the root of your dyspareunia.
What are the treatments for pain during intercourse?
Your treatment is very much determined by the cause of your pain. If Dr. Hill discovers an infection or medical condition, some medicines may help. If you have vaginal dryness that’s causing uncomfortable friction and burning, she may recommend estrogen creams or vaginal wellness treatments with radiofrequency technology. Low estrogen levels commonly occur in menopausal women or women in the immediate postpartum period.
She may also offer non-medical interventions, including counseling or desensitization therapy, that helps you learn to relax your vagina during intimacy. She may also help you understand at-home measures, such as changes in position, over-the-counter lubricants, and longer foreplay that can increase your pleasure.
If you’re experiencing pain during sexual intercourse, don’t hesitate to call Suffolk Pelvic Medicine, or book an appointment online.
