Over the last number of months, we’ve learned a thing or two about the wide range of contraceptives that are available on the market today. Now, we are going to continue our focus on health by studying a wide range of topics relating to sex and sexual health. Last week, we looked at getting your sex life back in gear with some sexy aphrodisiacs. This week, we will focus on dyspareunia, or pain during intercourse. ______________________________________________________ What is dyspareunia? Painful intercourse or dyspareunia can happen for a number of reasons. Many women experience painful intercourse at some point in their lives. Dyspareunia is persistent or recurrent genital pain that may occur before, during or after intercourse. People who feel pain with intercourse may also experience some other symptoms to include, pain only at sexual penetration (entry), pain with every penetration, even while using a tampon, while others may experience a burning or throbbing pain, even hours after intercourse. Causes There are a variety of things that may be causing pain during intercourse, depending on when the pain occurs and how long it lasts. Emotional causes There are a number of reasons that sex may be painful and not all of them are linked to physical causes. Stress in your life can cause your pelvic floor muscles to tighten, thus contributing to pain during intercourse. Similarly, anxiety, depression, fear of intimacy, and/or relationship problems can also contribute to this. How do I know what is causing it? It can be hard, particularly from an emotional standpoint, to pinpoint exactly what is causing pain during sex. Pain can lead to the fear of recurring pain, thereby making it more difficult to relax during sex, which can lead to more pain. Talking to your partner and/or your GP is the first step in helping you to resolve this issue. Your GP will be able to advise you on the best course of action. Physical causes: Insufficient lubrication Pain during penetration may be caused by insufficient lubrication, often as a result of not enough foreplay. This is also common after menopause or childbirth, or during breast-feeding. Some medications are also known to affect desire or arousal, which can decrease lubrication causing sex to be painful. Inflammation or infection An infection in your genital area or the urinary tract can also be the cause of painful sex. Other reasons for painful intercourse can include Eczema or other skin problems in the genital area. Injury or irritation Pain during penetration may also be a s a result of injury or irritation from an accident, pelvic surgery, or the aftermath of childbirth. Vaginismus When you have involuntary spasms of the muscles of the vaginal wall (known as vaginismus), sex can be extremely painful. What next? If you are experiencing pain during intercourse, it is extremely important that you visit your GP. Talking to your GP about the issue is the first step to resolving it. Don’t be embarrassed about talking to them, but instead, before you go in make note of when you experience the pain, if it is ongoing and for how long it lasts.