Dyspareunia is the name given to a condition that promotes genital or pelvic pain during intimate contact or during climax and which, although it may occur in men, is more common among women. This dysfunction can happen at any stage of life causing suffering and difficulty in the love relationship.
The pain that prevents penetration or that happens during sexual intercourse can happen due to the use of some medications, such as antidepressants, hemorrhoids, decreased vaginal lubrication and involuntary contraction of the muscles of the vagina, which is known as vulvodynia and which corresponds to one of the main causes of dyspareunia in women.
To combat dyspareunia and achieve pleasurable intimate contact, it is important to discover its cause and perform the appropriate treatment, which can be guided by a sexologist, urologist or gynecologist, when the causes are physical.
Causes of dyspareunia
Usually pain during intimate contact is psychosomatic in origin and has emotional factors involved, however, it can also occur due to:
- Little or no vaginal lubrication; Infections or inflammations of the Bartholin and Skene glands that are present in the female genital region; Condom improperly placed; Poorly fitted diaphragm; Allergic reaction to contraceptive foams or gels; Infections of the cervix, uterus or of the fallopian tubes; endometriosis; vulvodynia, which is the involuntary contraction of the muscles of the vagina, making it difficult to penetrate; pelvic tumors and adhesions or scars after a cesarean section; some congenital malformation, such as a compliant hymen or a septum that abnormally divides the vagina; hemorrhoids Anal fissures.
In addition, dyspareunia may appear during menopause or when the woman is undergoing some type of cancer treatment because in addition to the emotional factor not favoring intimate contact, radiotherapy also causes changes in the tissues that make intimate contact painful.
How to know if it is dyspareunia
The diagnosis of dyspareunia must be made by the gynecologist or urologist, after the evaluation of the reported symptoms and observation of the genital organs. The doctor may also order tests such as pap smears and pelvic ultrasound to identify possible causes and thus indicate the appropriate treatment.
Unlike vaginismus, dyspareunia is more associated with physical problems and the pain can be so intense that it prevents sexual intercourse. Know other causes of pain during intercourse.
How the treatment is done
Discovering the cause is the best way to treat and cure pain during sex. When the causes are physical it may be necessary to take painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics, however in some cases it may be necessary to resort to surgery and when the causes are emotional it may be a good option to have sessions with a psychotherapist and a sexologist to improve intimate contact.
Some strategies that can help are:
- Take care of the loving relationship, to ensure the couple's intimacy and intimacy, having time for each other; Follow the treatment indicated by the doctor or sexologist; Know your own body, the partner's body and your emotions; Be rested both physically as mentally; try to intimate contact in a calm and peaceful environment, away from stress; stipulate a day for the date and prepare for intimacy during the day; eat light meals, in small quantities, but with aphrodisiac foods, such as cinnamon, chocolate and pepper; use intimate lubricant before and during attempts; set a limit, so the partner knows when to give up if you are not comfortable; during foreplay be confident and say when you like and are happy with your partner.
In addition, being sure that the intimate relationship will not be harmful to the couple helps to improve the intimate contact little by little, even if it takes an investment of months and even years to achieve a healthy intimate life.
