WOMEN: SEXUAL PROBLEMS. PAIN WITH INTERCOURSE AND VAGINISMUS
Pain with intercourse
Pain on entry is most commonly the result of insufficient arousal and lubrication. It can be particularly troublesome after the menopause for women who aren’t having hormone replacement. The solution is to ensure that you’re aroused enough before penetration. If you and your partner both want his penis in your vagina before you’re moist enough, use an additional lubricant such as K-Y Jelly on the penis and all around the introitus. If you don’t, the discomfort of dry penetration will turn you right off.
Entry can also be painful if there is any inflammation or ulceration of the vulva. It’s best to postpone intercourse until any genital inflammations have cleared up with treatment, both for your comfort and to prevent possible spread of infection.
Pain during deep penile thrusting is I symptom of pathology in the pelvis, and always needs medical investigation. Common causes are infections of the cervix, uterus, tubes or other pelvic organs and tissues; endometriosis; some ovarian conditions, pelvic scar tissue resulting from surgery or radiation treatment for cancer. A retroverted uterus is only likely to cause pain on deep thrusting if the uterus is stuck in the backwards position by scar tissue.
Contractions of the uterus during orgasm are seldom painful. On the contrary, they’re believed to add to the pleasant sensations of orgasm.
Vaginismus
This is an involuntary, painful spasm of the muscles surrounding the entrance to the vagina. It begins as soon as sex (or pelvic examination) is anticipated. The contraction may be so powerful and persistent as to make sexual penetration impossible. This spasm can occur in women who have a deep-seated fear of sex. The dread may have developed after a traumatic sexual experience (often in childhood) or from having learned extreme negative attitudes towards sex. The fear may be buried so deeply in the mind that the woman is hardly aware of it.
Vaginismus can usually be overcome by psychotherapy and sexual counselling, though it can take months or years for a woman to learn that sex with a loving partner is ‘good’ and won’t harm her. Most sufferers recover to enjoy a normal sex life and bear children.
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