8 Reasons For Painful Sexual Intercourse

Why Does Sex Hurt

Almost 75 percent of women will experience pain during sex at some point in their lives. Here are eight reasons why sex is suddenly painful:

1. You don’t have enough sex

If you haven’t had sex in a while, then it’s going to hurt. Regular activity keeps your vagina healthy and robust. If you have intercourse regularly, the vaginal walls stay stretched, and the muscles stay flexible.

2. You’re going through perimenopause

One of the most common symptoms of perimenopause is atrophic vaginitis, which is when the vaginal area doesn’t have enough estrogen. As a result, the vaginal skin becomes less stretchy, and there isn’t as much lubrication.

3. You’re not using lubricant during intercourse

Vaginal dryness can also be caused by not being as aroused or taking certain medications, leading to increased friction and pain during sex. But, a little lube can go a long way.

4. You have an infection

Frequently women don’t realize they have either a bacterial or yeast infection, which can contribute to painful intercourse.

5. You’ve been diagnosed with pelvic floor dysfunction

Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is common among women — almost 35% of all women are affected by it. During sex, the pelvic floor can spasm and cause pain.

6. You’re experiencing digestive issues

For women who have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s disease, the bowel is right next to the uterus, so any movement of the uterus can trigger inflammation and irritation of the bowel.

7. You have endometriosis

More than half of all women with endometriosis experience intense pain during sex.

8. You can’t relax

Being in a bad state of mind can make it hard to relax, causing arousal to become difficult. The result? Painful sex.

Don’t ignore painful sex

If painful sex becomes a chronic issue, you can start to experience a physical reaction every time you have intercourse. This is because you’re anticipating that sex is going to hurt. Instead of assuming that painful sex is going to go away on its own, you should get help from your gynecologist to find out how sex can be more enjoyable again.