Vaginal penetration can be painful for some people. But experts say that sex shouldn't hurt and that the discomfort is often related to some medical conditions, according to Yahoo!Life.
For some people, intercourse is painful. PHOTO Shutterstock
Sex should not be uncomfortable or painful.
“People who have always had pain just assume it's normal. Is not”Dr. Lauren Streicher, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told Yahoo Life.
So says Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine.
Nearly three out of four women experience pain during intercourse at some point in their lives, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Sometimes it's short term, sometimes it's long term. When it comes to men, however, only 5% report experiencing such problems.
Pain during sex could be an indicator that something is wrong with your health, women's health expert Dr. Jennifer Wider tells the source.
“Frequent or moderate to severe pain usually indicates that something is wrong and is a strong indication that it should be addressed with a health care provider.”it warns.
The medical term for genital pain before, during or after intercourse is dyspareunia.
Some conditions that are related to painful sex:
vaginismus, a condition that causes an involuntary stretching or contraction of the muscles around the vagina could be at the root of the pain. The condition is linked to anxiety disorders, birth injuries, previous surgeries, fear of sex, or a history of sexual abuse or rape, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Infections. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes and other infections can lead to pain during sex, says Dr. Lauren Streicher.
Menopause it's accompanied by a loss of estrogen, which results in vaginal dryness, which can make sex painful during penetration, says Dr. Mary Jane Minkin.
Irritable bowel syndrome can cause pain during sex in women.
endometriosis, a condition whose symptoms include painful periods, pain during intercourse, excessive bleeding, and painful bowel movements may also be responsible for pain during sex.
Fibroids they can cause symptoms such as longer periods, back pain, pain during sex, and infertility.
The advice of specialists for women who have such pains is to schedule a consultation with the gynecologist to find out the exact cause of them and to establish the right remedies.
