Pain during sexual intercourse is called dyspareunia. This can be due to a number of reasons, including a lack of lubrication. To remedy this, try using more foreplay and a water-based lubricant. Also, medications like antidepressants and high blood pressure medicines can decrease sexual desire and lubrication.
Another cause of sex pain is anxiety. If this is a recurring problem, a counselor might be helpful.
Lack of lubrication
It may take awhile for your body to produce enough natural lubrication to make sex comfortable after a long break. If you’re trying to jump right back into sex after taking a hiatus, try slowly getting more and more involved in foreplay to increase the intensity and enjoyment of your sexual encounters. Also, consider using a lubricant (manmade or the natural stuff, like baby oil), especially if you’re experiencing pain during penetration.
Some women experience painful intercourse for reasons that are both structural and emotional, like a lack of lubrication or pelvic muscle tension. Pain during sex is called dyspareunia, and while occasional minor soreness is common, it’s worth talking to your doctor about if it’s persistent.
Dyspareunia can be caused by many factors, including a decrease in estrogen levels after menopause or pregnancy; certain medications, including antidepressants, high blood pressure medication and sedatives; stress and anxiety; pelvic surgery or medical treatments, such as a hysterectomy or radiation for cancer; tight hip or pelvic muscles from arthritis or injuries; and other conditions, such as endometriosis, uterine prolapse, cystitis and ovarian fibroids.
Fortunately, most cases of painful sex are resolved with time and the right amount of foreplay, lubrication and communication between partners. If you’re having trouble with penetration, change positions, use a lubricant and wait until you’re sexually aroused to start sex.
Anxiety
People go through dry spells in the bedroom for all sorts of reasons, including choosing to be celibate, having a lack of partner or simply feeling a decline in desire – This discovery is the result of the portal team’s work https://sexlovechat.com. But if these periods of abstinence are prolonged, they can have an impact on the body and mind.
For example, it can take time to reacquaint the vagina with orgasmic sensations. And if you’re prone to painful sex, you may find it more difficult to get to orgasm after taking a long break from sexual activity. This could be due to a combination of factors, including lack of lubrication and anxiety.
Your vagina is made up of several layers that protect and cover your sexual organs and urinary opening. The outer lips, known as the labia majora, contain fat to help cushion the area. The thinner flaps of skin called the labia minora join at the top to enclose the clitoris. This area is protected by the vulva, which includes glands that produce mucus and sebum to keep the area clean and lubricated.
If you’re experiencing pain before, during and/or after sex, it might be time to talk to a doctor or therapist. It can be uncomfortable for both you and your partner to experience pain during sex, and it may affect your relationship. In addition to talking about it with your partner, you can seek treatment for your anxiety if needed.
Physical changes
For both men and women, a stint of celibacy can cause some unexpected changes in the body. For some, it can take a toll on their mental health, but there are also physical changes that can make sex less enjoyable—like pain during intercourse.
The most obvious physical change that can occur is a thinning of the vaginal walls, explains women’s health and sexual health expert Dr. Jessica Drai, who works with Astroglide. This can make sex feel uncomfortable and even painful, especially without enough foreplay or lubrication.
Having orgasms via masturbation can help alleviate this discomfort because it provides the body with additional oxytocin and serotonin, says Dr. Saltz. However, he adds that some people may find that masturbation isn’t as pleasurable after a period of abstinence because they might not be used to it.
Another potential physical reason for pain during sex after a long break is an allergy or irritation to lubrication, condoms, or spermicides that you or your partner are using. If you’re noticing that you have an allergic reaction to something in the bedroom, talk to your doctor about it.
Infrequent sex shouldn’t have any negative effects on a person’s health, but it’s important to note that the best frequency of sexual activity varies from person to person. For some, having sex a few times a month may be ideal; for others, it may be better to have sex a few times a week or even more frequently.
Stress
Many people go through a dry spell in the bedroom for various reasons, including being single and choosing to be celibate, a lack of desire, or other personal issues. When they do have sex again, it may hurt. Fortunately, there are things you can do to make it more comfortable.
Having sex often releases hormones that can help reduce stress. In addition, sex can be a great way to bond with your partner and improve communication in the relationship. It’s no wonder couples who have sex more often report being happier.
But if you are stressed out, that can make sex feel painful, too. It can also cause you to clench your vulva muscles, which makes penetrative sex uncomfortable. Other causes of pain during sex include:
Infections such as a yeast infection (which can cause itching, thick white discharge, and pain while peeing) or genital warts; scars from childbirth or surgery; a hernia; vaginitis; and some health conditions such as bladder prolapse, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or pelvic fibroid tumors. Certain medications can also cause sex to be painful, including birth control pills; drugs that treat psychiatric disorders; narcotics; and some types of cancer treatments. Women who have a sex drive that is low or who are undergoing hormonal changes, like menopause or breastfeeding, may also experience painful sex.