Pain during Sexual Intercourse

Q: I experience pain during sexual intercourse. Will it disappear on its own or do I need to contact a healthcare provider?

A: A painful intercourse is one of the most unpleasant conditions that can occur during sex. Painful sex can be defined as pelvic pain, pain in the vulvar or labial areas, as well as vaginal pain. The nature of pain can also differ greatly, starting from deep and sharp and up to burning. Despite the condition is rather common and bothers many couples, it is necessary to know all the possible reasons for the condition occurrence. There are several health complications that trigger painful sensations. They include:

• Advanced willingness to talk about sexual dysfunction or behavior;
• Rapid increase in the frequency of STD;
• Changes in the sexual behavior;
• Vulvodynia, the condition, which launches chronic vulvar pain;
• Complications after menopause;
• Vaginismus, which is the muscle spasm of the vaginal area;
• Skin conditions, which interfere with the genital area;
• Infections of the urinary tract;
• Other infections;
• Irritations or injuries of the vagina, etc.

Possible reasons for pain occurrence are numerous, so you need to exclude the ones, which are not typical for you. If your pain is sharp or burning, it can disappear without medical intervention. However, in case pain becomes deep and accompanied by pelvic cramping, muscle tightness, and muscle spasm, you need to contact your medical specialist and get qualified assistance. You can contact your gynecologist to ensure you have no serious health impairments that can trigger pain and other discomforts during the sexual intercourse. Emergency attention is required if pain is accompanied by bleeding, nausea and vomiting, discharge and rectal pain.