Sex should not be painful. Pain in the genital or pelvic area during sex is called dyspareunia.
Pain during sex can have many different causes.
Pain in the genital area is often difficult to talk about with friends, and it’s not uncommon to feel isolated.
If you are experiencing painful sex, you should contact your GP or sexual health clinic. Information, support and treatment is available to help.
Some causes of pain during sex can include:
-
- Thrush
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Vaginal dryness or irritation
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
Vaginismus
Vaginismus is when the vagina suddenly tightens up just as you try to put something into it. It can be painful and distressing but it can be treated.
Contact your GP or a sexual health clinic if:
- you find it hard inserting a tampon into your vagina;
- you struggle with vaginal penetration during sex;
- you feel burning or stinging pain during sex.
Vulvodynia
Vulvodynia is a persistent, unexplained pain in the vulva (the skin surrounding the entrance to the vagina). It can affect women of all ages, and often occurs in women who are otherwise healthy. Vulvodynia can be distressing to live with.
The pain may be:
- a burning, stinging or sore sensation;
- triggered by touch, such as during sex or when inserting a tampon;
- constantly in the background and can be worse when sitting;
- limited to part of the vulva, such as the opening of the vagina;
- more widespread, sometimes it can spread to the buttocks and inner thighs.
You should contact your GP or a sexual health clinic if you are experiencing vulval pain.