Sexual Pain Disorder

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Sexual Pain Disorder

Physical pain that is experienced during and after intercourse is termed as dyspareunia. This condition can be found in both, men and women. Vaginismus is also a part of this group of disorders. This condition leads to the contraction of the vagina during intercourse, which blocks the insertion of the penis and leads to pain in the pelvic area. Here is a list of details for more information on sexual pain disorders.

Physical causes of painful intercourse differ, depending on whether the pain occurs at entry or with deep thrusting. Emotional factors might be associated with many types of painful intercourse.

Symptoms

If you have painful intercourse, you might feel:

  • Pain only at sexual entry (penetration)
  • Pain with every penetration, including putting in a tampon
  • Deep pain during thrusting
  • Burning pain or aching pain
  • Throbbing pain, lasting hours after intercourse

Deep pain

Deep pain usually occurs with deep penetration. It might be worse in certain positions. Causes include:

  • Certain illnesses and conditions. The list includes endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine prolapse, retroverted uterus, uterine fibroids, cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic floor dysfunction, adenomyosis, hemorrhoids and ovarian cysts.
  • Surgeries or medical treatments. Scarring from pelvic surgery, including hysterectomy, can cause painful intercourse. Medical treatments for cancer, such as radiation and chemotherapy, can cause changes that make sex painful.

Entry pain

Pain during penetration might be associated with a range of factors, including:

  • Not enough lubrication. This is often the result of not enough foreplay. A drop in estrogen levels after menopause or childbirth or during breast-feeding also can be a cause.

    Certain medications are known to affect sexual desire or arousal, which can decrease lubrication and make sex painful. These include antidepressants, high blood pressure medications, sedatives, antihistamines and certain birth control pills.

  • Injury, trauma or irritation. This includes injury or irritation from an accident, pelvic surgery, female circumcision or a cut made during childbirth to enlarge the birth canal (episiotomy).
  • Inflammation, infection or skin disorder. An infection in your genital area or urinary tract can cause painful intercourse. Eczema or other skin problems in your genital area also can be the problem.
  • Vaginismus. These involuntary spasms of the muscles of the vaginal wall can make penetration painful.
  • A problem present at birth. Not having a fully formed vagina (vaginal agenesis) or the development of a membrane that blocks the vaginal opening (imperforate hymen) could cause dyspareunia.