Pain during sex - causes of dyspareunia
In the event of pain during sexual
intercourse, the priority is to find the cause in order to benefit from the
most suitable treatment. The doctors on take
stock of the possible causes and explain the necessary treatment.
Dyspareunia, what is it?
Sex, for both men and women, can
sometimes be a source of concern. Although painful intercourse is more common
in women, men can also experience what is called “dyspareunia”. It is a medical
term for pain during or after sex. There are many reasons for this, both
physically and psychically. Dyspareunia can manifest itself in different ways.
Most often the symptoms are sensations of burning, cuts, itching or spasmodic
contractions. These symptoms can spread over a very localized region of the
intimate area or in a very diffuse manner. If these manifestations seem deep
and intense to you, it is strongly recommended to seek the cause of them with
the help of a health professional.
The first piece of advice that the
doctors on can give you is especially
not to be embarrassed at the idea of discussing it with a healthcare
professional.
Possible causes of dyspareunia / Pain during sex
The symptoms you are experiencing may be
indicative of the presence of a health problem that needs to be addressed. Here
are the main reasons why you may experience pain during sex.
A
sexually transmitted infection
An STI is an infection that is most
often spread through unprotected sex. While some are now very well treated with
antibiotics, some remain serious. In women, a sexually transmitted infection
can manifest itself through intimate itching, especially at the entrance to the
vagina, unusual vaginal discharge, and / or discomfort during intercourse. In
humans, the infection may present more in the form of irritation, redness and a
feeling of discomfort in the genitals. However, infections are often
asymptomatic, meaning that you can be infected without showing visible signs of
infection. An STI can therefore go unnoticed. It is therefore important to get
tested to find out if you have been infected and, if necessary, to follow an
appropriate treatment.
Most of the time, these are STIs like
chlamydia or gonorrhea that can cause pain during sex. If you think you have an
STI, see a healthcare professional or doctor on Livi. They can assess your situation
with regard to a potential STI. They may also prescribe you a test which is the
only way to check if you are infected.
Urinary tract infection
One third of women have at least one
urinary tract infection in their lifetime. Urinary tract infections are common
infections that can affect the bladder, kidneys, and related tracts. There are
several different urinary tract infections, from the simplest to the most
severe. The most common urinary tract infection affects the bladder and is
called cystitis. Although both men and children can suffer from it, it is more
common in women. Indeed, the woman has a urethra shorter than that of the man,
which facilitates the arrival of bacteria to the bladder. Which makes the woman
more prone to UTIs.
The most common symptoms include a
burning sensation when you want to urinate, the urge to go to the toilet more
regularly, and cloudy or smelly urine. If the infection occurs regularly or if
you have a temperature over 38 ° C and pain in the lower back or flanks, then it
is no longer a simple infection and you should consult a doctor. health
professional.
A consequence of menopause
During menopause, the drop in estrogen
levels causes a reduction in vaginal discharge, which can cause vaginal dryness
and make sex uncomfortable and even painful. These symptoms may also appear in
the years before menopause, which is called perimenopause.
If you are experiencing vaginal dryness,
it is first important to understand the reason before starting any treatment.
Lubricants available in pharmacies can help reduce this dryness. But if the
symptoms persist, other treatments are possible with a healthcare professional.
This phenomenon can also occur outside
the menopause, in particular in pregnant women, in young mothers or during
stressful situations, because of the taking of drugs, the consumption of
alcohol or tobacco.
Skin
condition
The skin can sometimes become sensitive
during sex because of an irritant. It may, for example, be an allergy to latex,
to a soap, or even to certain spermicides. In the event of a skin condition,
such as eczema or dermatitis located at the entrance to the vagina or on the
penis, it can be the cause of dry, cracked and chapped genital skin which can
cause pain. during sex. As with vaginal dryness, silicone-based lubricants can
help in the short term, but it is important that your GP treat the underlying
skin condition.
The underlying medical causes
Here are some of the medical reasons why
intercourse could be complicated by dyspareunia.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): This
is the term used for widespread infection of the interior of the uterus,
fallopian tubes, and ovaries. This disease usually affects women under the age
of 24 and can cause pain during sex, pelvic or abdominal pain, vaginal
discharge or bleeding. It requires treatment from a healthcare professional.
Endometriosis: About 1 in 10 women have
endometriosis. Endometriosis means that uterine tissue is found outside the
uterus. It can be located in the pelvis, ovaries, bladder, abdomen or even
intestines. Symptoms are not always present, but when they do appear, they vary
greatly depending on the woman. Although there is no known cure, different
treatment methods can manage the symptoms and relieve pain.
Fibroids: These are benign growths in
the uterus, which may be asymptomatic. But in some women, they can cause pain
during sex, especially if they are large and located near the cervix. They can
be detected through gynecological examinations. Solutions usually involve drug
treatment prescribed by the general practitioner or gynecologist.
Phimosis in men: This is the phenomenon
when the end of the foreskin, the small fold of skin surrounding the glans
penis, prevents the glans from fully and easily retracting. Phimosis can cause
pain during intercourse if it persists into adulthood and is left untreated.
The discomfort can be improved by using condoms or lubricant, but if this is
still a problem, it is best to talk to a general practitioner. A doctor in can also direct you to the best care.
Inflammation of the prostate: This is
called prostatitis. Very often, it also causes pain when urinating, frequent or
urgent urination and pain on all the organs constituting the male genitalia. In
case of acute prostatitis, a general practitioner should be consulted for
antibiotic treatment.
Pain during intercourse is a common
factor for a variety of causes, most of the time harmless, but in some cases it
is possible that this pain is the subject of a more serious concern. Cancer of
the cervix, for example, most of the time develops asymptomatically but can
also cause pain during sex. This is why it is strongly recommended to
investigate the cause of these pains. To learn more about this, there is an
article dedicated to the prevention of cervical cancer.
Psychic causes
If pain during sex can be caused by
pathologies, it also happens that these pains come from stress, anxiety, or
apprehension. These factors can affect the lubrication of the vagina and make
penetration painful or even impossible. These pains are common but can be
resolved by contacting your partner. When these factors persist and develop
severe pain, it is recommended that you speak to a healthcare professional.
When penetration is absolutely
impossible we can speak of vaginismus. Its main causes are psychological. These
are involuntary contractions of the perivaginal muscles. It is an uncontrolled
reaction and yet there is no abnormality in the genitals. This phenomenon can
take place for different reasons such as not being aware of the presence of the
vagina or unconscious conflicts. Once the vaginismus is identified, the
treatment consists rather of a psychological help to understand the cause at
first.
How
to treat dyspareunia?
As a first step, when you experience
persistent pain during or after intercourse, it is recommended to investigate
the cause. Treatment for dyspareunia depends on its origin. Since the possible
causes are numerous, call a general practitioner, who will be able to direct
you to the best possible care according to your symptoms.
To treat the cause of your pain, you may
be advised to take medication, psychotherapy, hormone replacement or even
surgery in some cases.
