Dyspareunia is a term used to describe any type of pain with sexual intercourse, affecting individuals of all ages and genders. It is usually a symptom of an underlying condition, and its diagnosis involves identifying the cause based on the location and timing of the pain. Discussing sexual health with a healthcare provider is important for overall wellbeing, as they can tailor a diagnostic workup, which may include a pelvic exam or other tests, ...
Key Takeaways Painful sex is a common issue, with vaginismus being a condition characterized by involuntary muscle tightening of the vagina which leads to discomfort and pain during penetration. The pain associated with vaginismus can vary in intensity and may be described as burning, sharp, or mild discomfort. Physical causes of pain during sex include infections, tears, dryness, pelvic conditions, and surgeries, while non-physical causes can include anxiety, trauma, and relationship issues. Treatment for vaginismus ...
“Sex is not supposed to hurt.” We hear that all the time, but the sad fact for millions of women is that sex does hurt. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimate that up to 75% of women will experience sexual pain at some point in their lives. Sexual pain can be caused by a laundry list of problems including vaginismus, endometriosis, vaginal dryness, painful bladder syndrome, Chron’s disease, fibroids, scarring from surgery, pelvic floor problems, ...
It is more common than you might think for women to experience painful sex. Approximately 75 percent of women experience pain during or after sex at some point in their lives1. Because of the stigma around this issue, your partner might be hesitant to approach you about this. Painful sex may be related to a condition called vaginismus, which is the involuntary tightening of vaginal muscles. While the tightening of the muscles itself might not be painful, ...
Help relieve the symptoms of vaginismus: pain with sex, insertion of tampons, pelvic exams, or any other kind of wanted penetration. Pain with sex or any vaginal penetration can be difficult, but there are options. Vaginal dilators can be a great option when it comes to your journey to wellness. Practices in relaxation and expansion of the vaginal and pelvic muscles may help ease the symptoms. The vaginal dilator is meant to help with this process, as it is designed ...
Many women note that their body changes after menopause. Common complaints include changes in vaginal tissue (e.g., dryness, pain, fragility), skin (e.g., thinning, easy bruising), mood (e.g., mood swings, depression), metabolism (e.g., weight gain), thinking (e.g., “brain fog”), sleep (e.g., insomnia), and temperature regulation (e.g., hot flashes). These changes occur all over the body, in many different systems. Their common denominator? They are all regulated by estrogen, the primary female sex hormone. What is a hormone? The human body ...
Three things to help you navigate intimacy with Vaginismus When it comes to sexy-time with your boo, vaginismus can put a cramp in your style for sure! Vaginismus-related intense tightness and pain make women not only avoid sex but forego any and all forms of physical intimacy. Women sometimes fear that other forms of physical closeness might put their partner in “the mood” only to say NO when it comes to penetration. They hold back their kisses and caresses ...
Okay, ladies, it’s time for some real talk. Relationships are hard. Period. I follow some friends from high school on social media, and their Instagrams are what I refer to as highlight reels: photos, stories, or reels of all of the family fun moments they want people to see. But I know that in the background of those grammable moments are the day-in, day-out efforts of making a marriage or partnership work. And you know what? It takes ...
Do you dread going to the gynecologist because of traumatic pap smears? Does painful sex prevent you from achieving healthy intimacy with your partner? Do you find it impossible to insert a tampon? Or maybe you’ve been told you have an “overactive” or “tight” pelvic floor. If any of this resonates, you may be suffering from a condition called vaginismus, and you are not alone. Vaginismus is a common condition and can affect women of all ages, including trans ...
Three questions you need to ask your doctor One-in-Five women in the United States experience sexual pain! There are many reasons for painful sex, but vaginismus-related pain (pain related to involuntary vaginal tightening) by far has the most success rate with treatments1. In a study in 2017, nearly 73% women suffering with vaginismus were able to achieve pain-free intercourse when they received the necessary treatments1. Getting access to the right intervention starts with finding the right provider and asking ...