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Female Sexual Dysfunction

Pain on intercourse (dyspareunia)

Pain on intercourse can be deep or superficial. Deep pain is often associated with lack of lubrication, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis or other causes. Lack of arousal can cause pain and discomfort due to a failure of the womb to lift up and the walls of the vagina to swell and open to accommodate the thrusting penis. Superficial pain is often associated with thrush (a common vaginal infection), genital herpes, vestibulitis (an acute inflammatory condition) or muscle spasm as in vaginismus. A sensitivity to condoms and other contraceptive creams or devices can also be associated with this condition. The level of pain can range from mild discomfort to severe, preventing further penetrative sex. It can also be felt as a burning sensation, sharp, dull or intense pain during or after intercourse. Pain or bleeding on or after intercourse should always be discussed with a doctor and treatment will vary from change of position during lovemaking, use of lubricants, drug therapy or further investigation according to the cause of the problem. "Unfortunately, when sex has equalled pain," a vicious cycle often sets in and women avoid sex altogether. Once pain has been resolved the mental association between sex and pain will often need to be dealt with too. Talking about the problem as a couple and reading self-help books can be useful. In more difficult cases the problem may be dealt with by treatment with sex therapy.