Experiencing Pelvic Pain During Sex? You May Not Be Alone

Women are often given specific messages about sex. In particular, we're often under the impression that sex is always fun and enjoyable —that everyone is doing it all the time. However, that isn't always the case. But, we are also taught to not talk about our own sexual health. We certainly aren't talking about sex not being enjoyable.

For many reasons, sex may not be as pleasant to all women as it is made out to be. One of the leading reasons behind this is pain during sex.

Pain During Sex Is Common

It is estimated that 20% of women experience pain during sex. While there are a variety of conditions or issues that can cause this, one of the most common ones is called vaginismus.

When people think about sexual dysfunction issues, their mind often goes first to men and erectile dysfunction. Unfortunately, pain during sex for a woman often flies underneath the radar.

Advancements in medicine, awareness, and research into issues such as pelvic pain for women are still catching up to the progress that research into males has discovered. Worsening this issue is that even less research has been conducted for those who don't identify as female.

Conditions that Cause Pain During Sex

It's probably going to be surprising to hear that there are many different conditions/issues that can cause pain or discomfort during sex.

• Endometriosis

• Pelvic floor dysfunction

• Pelvic inflammatory disease

• Ovarian cysts

• Uterine fibroids

• Vaginismus

Additionally, if a woman experienced past sexual or birth trauma, it may contribute to a painful experience when trying to be intimate with another person.

Vaginismus Explained

Vaginismus is a condition that causes a person to experience pain and difficulty with penetration of any kind. Some ways that this feeling is described is:

• Cramping

• Extreme tightness

• Burning

Other people will say that it is like hitting a wall, making penetration extremely difficult and painful.

Many Women Experience Pain...And Suffer Mentally

Many variables will cause a woman to suffer with their mental health due to pain during sex.

First, it's due to the societal expectations that sex is always enjoyable. When it's not, it's not uncommon for a person to feel shame or guilt, as if something is wrong with them.

Second, when a woman feels uncomfortable during intercourse, it can cause them to feel as if they are disconnected from their partner. When they feel as if they can't enjoy sex, it can cause distress if they feel as if they aren't pleasing their partner.

Third, it can cause feelings of anxiety or depression. A woman may dread sexual intercourse of any kind when they are dreading being intimate with another person. This often naturally results in tension in the vagina, which can make penetration more difficult.

Many people are suffering due to painful intercourse, but it's a topic that is considered taboo to talk about in the majority of societies.

Next Steps

First, remind yourself that there is nothing wrong with you. You aren't less of a woman because of this. It's more common than you realize.

You should always consult with your gynecologist or other physicians and be open about the pain you're experiencing. As licensed professionals, many, including us therapists, have extensive knowledge about the causes of pain during sex and how to treat it.

Working with a licensed doctor can help you diagnose or rule out any conditions causing this pain.  In all cases of painful sex, it's important to have a multi-faceted approach to treating it. For most people, they have great success with not only receiving medical treatment but mental health therapy as well.

Therapy is a powerful tool that can help women find techniques to lessen the impact of pain during sex as well as understand their own bodies.

If you're interested in learning about sex therapy, don't hesitate to reach out when you're ready. I am here to support you and guide you.