- What can cause pain during intercourse
- 1. Decreased libido
- 2. Allergy
- 3. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- 4. Hormonal changes
- 5. Dyspareunia
- 6. Urinary infection
- 7. Postpartum
- 8. Erectile dysfunction
- 9. Phimosis
- 10. Inflammation of the prostate
Pain during intercourse is a very common symptom in the intimate lives of several couples and is usually related to decreased libido, which can be caused by excessive stress, use of some medications or conflicts in the relationship.
However, pain during intimate contact can also be caused by some health problems, so if it happens frequently or prevents sexual intercourse it is important to consult a gynecologist, in the case of women, or a urologist, in the case of men, to identify the cause and start the appropriate treatment, in order to have pleasure again during the relationship.
What can cause pain during intercourse
Burning and pain during sexual intercourse can be caused by several factors, the main ones being:
1. Decreased libido
Decreased libido is a major cause of pain and burning during sexual intercourse, especially in women, as it leads to decreased vaginal lubrication, which makes penetration more painful. The decrease in libido can happen due to several factors, the main ones being the excess of stress, which in addition to reducing lubrication makes it difficult to excite, use of some medications, especially antidepressants and anti hypertension, and marital problems.
What to do: In these cases, it is recommended to consult a general practitioner so that the cause of the decreased libido can be identified and, if it is due to the use of medications, the exchange or suspension of the medication may be indicated. In addition, the support of a psychologist is essential, since it is possible to relieve stress or find strategies to resolve the couple's conflicts.
2. Allergy
Some skin problems, such as contact dermatitis caused by the use of intimate soaps or lubricants, can lead to the appearance of wounds in the intimate area of women or men, causing itching, discomfort and pain during intercourse.
What to do: If it is found that the pain during intercourse is due to allergy, it is recommended to avoid using products that may be irritating to the intimate region and to consult a dermatologist or gynecologist to start the appropriate treatment for the problem.
3. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Sexually transmitted infections are the main causes of pain during intercourse. In women, the main STI related to pain during intercourse is that of the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis , responsible for trichomoniasis, while in men, infection with Mycoplasma hominis is more frequent. Other sexually transmitted infections that can cause pain and discomfort during sex are genital herpes and gonorrhea.
These infections, in addition to causing pain during sexual intercourse, lead to the appearance of other signs and symptoms, such as itching, a burning sensation in the intimate region, the presence of discharge, the appearance of sores or spots in the genital region.
What to do: In these cases, it is recommended to follow the guidance of the gynecologist or urologist, who recommends treatment according to the microorganism responsible for the disease, with the use of antibiotics being most often indicated. In addition, it is important to keep the genital area always clean, urinate after sex and avoid sexual contact without a condom.
4. Hormonal changes
Pain during intercourse due to hormonal changes is more frequent in women entering menopause or taking hormone replacement medications, which causes dysregulation of estrogen levels in the body, decreases the lubrication of the vagina and facilitates the appearance of pain during intimate contact.
What to do: The pain caused by hormonal changes and which results in decreased lubrication, can be resolved with the use of intimate lubricants, however, it is important to consult the gynecologist if you have entered menopause to start the appropriate treatment and avoid other annoyances such as hot flashes or palpitations.
5. Dyspareunia
Dyspareunia is intense pain during intimate contact that prevents sexual intercourse and can happen in both men and women. This situation can happen at any stage of life and can have both psychological and physical causes, the involuntary contraction of the muscles of the vagina being the main cause of dyspareunia in women. Know other causes of dyspareunia.
What to do: It is recommended that the gynecologist or urologist be consulted in order to make the diagnosis and initiate the appropriate treatment, which may include techniques for muscle dilation or performing Kegel exercises, for example.
6. Urinary infection
Urinary infections, in addition to itching in the genital region, burning and pain when urinating and the appearance of discharge, can also lead to pain during sexual intercourse in both men and women, being more frequent in this case due to the anatomy of the female genital organs, which makes them more susceptible to infections.
What to do: It is advisable to consult the urologist or gynecologist so that treatment can begin, which depends on the microorganism identified as causing the infection, and then the use of antibiotics or antifungals may be indicated. In addition, it is important to maintain good intimate hygiene, drink plenty of fluids, avoid sexual intercourse without a condom and wear cotton underwear.
7. Postpartum
The postpartum period can be very uncomfortable for women, especially after a natural birth due to injuries that may have appeared in the intimate area. In addition, bleeding after birth can last for several weeks, making intimate contact uncomfortable.
What to do: It is recommended to have sex again after 3 weeks postpartum because there is less risk of infection and bleeding is less, however, the woman who must decide when she feels more comfortable to return to intimate contact.
In addition, another way to improve sexual intercourse is through the practice of Pompoarism, a technique that improves and increases sexual pleasure during intimate contact. See how to practice pompoirism to improve sex life.
8. Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is a male sexual disorder that can cause the development of deformations in the penis in some men, which can cause pain during penetration in both men and women.
What to do: A urologist should be consulted if there are problems related to the erection, however, to improve the results it is recommended to eat a diet low in fat, sugar and alcohol, as these are substances that can make the problem worse.
9. Phimosis
Phimosis consists of the difficulty of exposing the penis glans when the skin covering it does not have enough opening, causing intense pain during sexual intercourse. This problem usually tends to go away until puberty but it can persist until adulthood.
What to do: It is recommended to consult a urologist to assess the problem and have a small surgery to remove the excess skin on the penis. See how phimosis surgery is done.
10. Inflammation of the prostate
Inflammation of the prostate is a common problem that can arise during a man's life and usually, in addition to causing pain during intimate contact, especially when ejaculating, it can also cause burning when urinating.
What to do: It is advisable to consult the urologist so that the cause can be identified and the most appropriate treatment can be started, which can be done with anti-inflammatories and, in the case of an associated infection, antibiotics according to the microorganism involved. In addition, during treatment a good tip is to take a hot bath or take a sitz bath to relieve pain during intercourse.
