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What Causes Pain During Intercourse?
Question: my wife is 23 and has pcos when we have intercourse it's very painful and makes it to where it's not enjoyable and not some thing she wants to endure . what is causing this and what might can be done to treat this
Brief Answer:
vaginal dryness, vaginismus and some other causes.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.
The common cause for painful intercourse are vaginal dryness,
Vaginismus,
Local vaginal trauma or infection,
Pelvic inflammatory disease(PID), or
endometriosis.
I would suggest that you can use water based lubricants during sex.
Sometimes, due to apprehension about sex or some other stress, vaginal wall muscles contract resulting in narrowing of passage and pain during intercourse.
For this, you both should spend more time in foreplay. Fingering (starting with little finger and moving to middle finger gradually) will help in widening of passage. Never try to rough in sex. Respect your partner's comfort.
If there is any local cause like trauma or infection, consult your OBGYN for treatment accordingly.
She should also go for ultrasound examination to rule out PID or endometriosis.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Thanks.
vaginal dryness, vaginismus and some other causes.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.
The common cause for painful intercourse are vaginal dryness,
Vaginismus,
Local vaginal trauma or infection,
Pelvic inflammatory disease(PID), or
endometriosis.
I would suggest that you can use water based lubricants during sex.
Sometimes, due to apprehension about sex or some other stress, vaginal wall muscles contract resulting in narrowing of passage and pain during intercourse.
For this, you both should spend more time in foreplay. Fingering (starting with little finger and moving to middle finger gradually) will help in widening of passage. Never try to rough in sex. Respect your partner's comfort.
If there is any local cause like trauma or infection, consult your OBGYN for treatment accordingly.
She should also go for ultrasound examination to rule out PID or endometriosis.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
on the lube it didn't seem to work and it even hurts to finger her could this also be related to not having enough estrogen? she has not been on birth control in 3 years and does not have periods
Brief Answer:
vulvodynia; ultrasound examination.
Detailed Answer:
Estrogen deficiency usually cause vaginal atrophic changes and vaginal dryness. The pain is due to friction caused by dryness.
If it hurts with finger as well, then it could also be vulvodynia (constant pain in vulva).
I have some suggestion for your wife which might help:
Gentle care of the vulva can help provide pain relief.
Wear 100% cotton underwear (no underwear at night).
Avoid tight-fitting undergarments.
Avoid douching.
Use mild soaps for bathing and clean the vulva with water only.
Do not use vaginal wipes, deodorants, or bubble bath.
Do not use pads or tampons with deodorants.
Use lubrication for intercourse everytime.
Apply cool gel packs to the vulvar area to reduce pain and itching.
Avoid exercises that put pressure directly on the vulva, such as bicycling.
Practicing relaxation exercises will release muscle tension.
These tips should help her.
Other than this, go for ultrasound as I suggested earlier.
Kindly discuss these issues with her OBGYN.
Hope to have helped you.
Take care.
vulvodynia; ultrasound examination.
Detailed Answer:
Estrogen deficiency usually cause vaginal atrophic changes and vaginal dryness. The pain is due to friction caused by dryness.
If it hurts with finger as well, then it could also be vulvodynia (constant pain in vulva).
I have some suggestion for your wife which might help:
Gentle care of the vulva can help provide pain relief.
Wear 100% cotton underwear (no underwear at night).
Avoid tight-fitting undergarments.
Avoid douching.
Use mild soaps for bathing and clean the vulva with water only.
Do not use vaginal wipes, deodorants, or bubble bath.
Do not use pads or tampons with deodorants.
Use lubrication for intercourse everytime.
Apply cool gel packs to the vulvar area to reduce pain and itching.
Avoid exercises that put pressure directly on the vulva, such as bicycling.
Practicing relaxation exercises will release muscle tension.
These tips should help her.
Other than this, go for ultrasound as I suggested earlier.
Kindly discuss these issues with her OBGYN.
Hope to have helped you.
Take care.
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
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