Sex is painful or uncomfortable

Are you experiencing painful sex? You have lots of company. Pain is easily the most common sexual complaint for women in general, and midlife women in particular. Your pain may be superficial or deep. You may experience it upon initial penetration or only with deep thrusting. You may burn or ache. This may be something you've dealt with intermittently all your life, or it may be a completely new experience for you.

Dyspareunia - the Medical Term for Painful Sex
The medical name for this condition is dyspareunia ("dis-puh-ROO-nee-uh"). Women with dyspareunia can answer to any or many of these symptoms, because the causes of painful sex are many. Sometimes the solutions are easy to find. But sometimes, getting to the right condition and finding the right treatment can take patience. It's a process of trial and error you can begin on your own, but may be best explored with the guidance of a trusted doctor or menopause care provider.

Painful Intercourse Causes
The most common painful intercourse causes are: vaginal dryness, vaginal atrophy, vaginitis, vaginismus, vulvodynia, post-treatment for pelvic conditions (intercourse after hysterectomy or intercourse after chemo), deep pelvic pain, and other physical limitations related to sex and aging. That's quite a long list, but you can explore each of them by clicking on the condition links to the right. You'll also find treatments for painful intercourse and its causes which you can discuss with your doctor and/or try on your own.