Pain During Sex: What You Need to Know to Feel Comfortable Again

Feeling pain during sex can be frustrating and confusing. If you experience discomfort or pain while being intimate, you’re not alone—it happens to many people. Understanding why pain occurs during sex is the first step toward finding relief and enjoying a healthy sex life.

One common cause is physical issues like infections, dryness, or tight muscles. For women, things like vaginal dryness due to hormonal changes or infections can make sex painful. Men can also face issues like infections or inflammation that lead to discomfort. Sometimes, conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, or pelvic inflammatory disease cause pain. For both men and women, past injuries or surgeries might contribute.

How to Handle Pain During Sex

Simple changes can help reduce pain. For example, using water-based lubricants can ease dryness and reduce friction. Taking your time to relax and ensuring enough foreplay can make a big difference, too. Sometimes changing positions can help avoid discomfort by adjusting the pressure or angle.

But physical causes aren’t the only reasons. Stress, anxiety, or bad past experiences might make your body tense up during sex, causing pain. If you think emotional factors are involved, talking with your partner, or a counselor might be helpful.

When Should You See a Doctor?

If pain sticks around, gets worse, or comes with other symptoms like unusual discharge, bleeding, or itching, it’s important to check with a healthcare provider. They can identify if there’s an infection or another condition requiring treatment. Also, if pain happens frequently or affects your relationship and mood, professional advice is a good idea.

There are effective treatments for many causes of painful sex, from simple ointments and hormone creams to physical therapy or medications. Don’t wait or feel shy to get help—your comfort and well-being matter.

Remember, pain during sex isn’t something you have to just accept. With the right knowledge and care, you can find solutions that work for you and get back to enjoying your intimate moments pain-free.