Painful Intercourse?
Intercourse should not hurt. Period. If it does, it is an indication that something is wrong. Don't ignore it. Dr. Russo helps you navigate a conversation to describe the pain, identify the cause and find a solution. Dyspareunia, or painful intercourse, is something millions of women all over the world face, regardless of age. Fortunately, dyspareunia is treatable. It is effectively managed and often even eliminated, depending on the exact location of the pain and the frequency with which it occurs.
What is Dyspareunia?
Scientifically speaking, dyspareunia is defined as pain in the vaginal area that occurs just before, during, or after intercourse and is experienced either persistently or recurrently. Painful intercourse can have a number of causes, some of which are related to emotional or psychological factors while others may be associated with physical structure or even medical conditions.
Symptoms Include:
- Burning pain or aching vaginal pain
- Deep pain that occurs during thrusting
- New pain, when intercourse was previously free of pain
- Pain only during sexual penetration or entry
- Pain that occurs with every type of vaginal penetration
- Throbbing pain that lasts hours after intercourse
The Point of Pain
The physical causes of painful intercourse differ, depending on whether a woman is in pain at the point of entry or with deep thrusting.
Painful penetration is often caused by:
- Congenital abnormalities that may be causing a block to the vaginal opening.
- Infection in the genital area or urinary tract as well as certain skin conditions in the genital area.
- Injury, trauma, or irritation that may be the result of an accident or surgery of some kind, including episiotomy.
- Dryness is often the direct result of a drop in estrogen which commonly occurs after menopause, during breastfeeding, during the use of certain medications and after a woman has given birth. Vaginal dryness or lack of sufficient lubrication is also one of the common chemotherapy side effects.
- Vaginismus or involuntary spasms of the muscles of the vaginal wall that may occur at penetration.
Deep Pain
Deep vaginal discomfort and pain occurs with deeper penetration and can become more pronounced during intercourse.
Common causes often include:
- Certain illness and medical conditions such as PID, ovarian cysts, uterine prolapse, and uterine fibroids.
- Surgeries or medical treatments to repair issues such as cystocele and rectocele as well as hysterectomy or any other surgical procedure to the pelvic area that may cause the formation of scar tissue.
Emotional Factors
Physical reasons aside, emotions also factor greatly in leading to dyspareunia.
Psychological issues that can contribute to pain are:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fear of intimacy
- Stress
- History of sexual abuse
Intimacy should never come at the price of pain. At Inner Beauty, we are dedicated to providing our clients with treatments that are safe, effective, and proven to address the challenges women often face. We know the importance of being able to enjoy a relationship with your partner, so we offer the best procedures and treatments available to help restore the quality of that relationship and satisfy your needs.
Sexual health is an integral part of your overall health. Consult with the team of experts at Inner Beauty to learn more about the treatment options we provide today.
At Inner Beauty, we offer women suffering from painful intercourse several treatment options:
diVa® laser vaginal rejuvenation - which is effective in renewing moisture, thickening and strengthening the tissues of the vaginal wall
BioTE® - hormone replacement therapy to optimize hormonal imbalance of both estrogen and testosterone to minimize discomfort with intercourse and to invoke positive feelings toward sexual relations and increase libido
O-Shot® - injections to create greater blood flow to the clitoris and anterior walls of the vagina, which plays a factor in greater sexual stimulation and higher productions of natural lubrication
diVaTyte™ - laser therapy to reshape and resurface the labia to create greater comfort during intercourse
RESTORE YOUR BEAUTY FROM THE INSIDE OUT