Dealing with painful sex

Don’t suffer in silence – finding the cause of your pain is the first step to fixing it

- FAYE M SMITH

Pain during or after sex? You’re not alone. Also known as dyspareunia, almost three quarters of women* have experienced it at some point.

‘The severity of pain can vary, but most women describe a burning or tearing, throbbing, cramping and occasionally stabbing pain, which can extend from the pelvis to the vagina,’ explains our expert, Dr Henderson from the Kent Menopause Clinic.

‘Many women will experience a “one-off”, but some conditions are persistent,’ she adds. Here’s what could be causing it…

It’s… vulvodynia

Experiencing burning and stabbing pain? It could be vulvodynia. ‘It’s due to “faulty wiring” between the vulva and the brain,’ says Dr Henderson. ‘It can be caused by stress – although there may be a gap between the event and symptoms developing. Even a severe viral illness can result in vulvodynia.’

FIX IT ‘You may need counselling, topical steroids or be prescribed medication to help the pain, such as amitriptyline,’ says Dr Henderson. ‘Avoid potential irritants, such as soaps, bubble baths, bath oils and intimate deodorants. And always opt for organic sanitary protection as synthetic can cause irritation.’

Meet our expert…

Dr Anne Henderson is a gynaecologist and menopause specialist at the Kent Menopause Clinic.

It’s… a vaginal infection