If you’re wondering if there are natural home remedies to reduce the sharp pain you feel during intercourse, then chances are that you experience painful intercourse.
Painful sex is a common phenomenon, especially for women, whether you’re sexually or you just hit menopause.
In this guide, we have expounded more on what painful intercourse is, what medicine to take to reduce the pain it causes, the home and natural remedies for such, and the new treatment available for painful intercourse after menopause.
Ready?
Table of contents
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What is Painful Sexual Intercourse?
If you’ve ever heard of dyspareunia, you know what painful sex means. Painful sex can be any pain or discomfort experienced during or after sexual intercourse.
It can just be mild discomfort or severe pain that makes you dislike sex. Painful sex is a common problem experienced by both genders, particularly women, during sexual intercourse.
Is Painful Sex Common?
As much as this is not a familiar topic for most women, painful sex does exist. According to healthline, about 7% of sexually active women feel sharp pain during intercourse.
Also, in the UK, 7.5% out of 7,000 sexually active women interviewed said they experience pain during sexual intercourse. In other words, painful sex is common among women.
Painful Intercourse, although common, have varying causes however it’s nothing to panic about as there are natural home remedies to reduce pain and new treatment for such even after menopause.
What Are The Causes Of Sharp Pain In Sexually Active Women?
Painful intercourse has varying causes, some of which are natural and some caused by a medical or physical condition. Some of the causes of painful intercourse in women include;
#1. Vaginal dryness
A lack of natural or artificial lubrication can make intercourse uncomfortable or painful. This can be due to hormonal changes, menopause, breastfeeding, certain medications, a lack of arousal, or any of these 13 Things That Causes Vaginal Dryness
#2. Infections
Certain infections, such as yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, STIs, and pelvic inflammatory disease, can cause pain during intercourse. This is usually discomforting and severe. PID not only causes painful intercourse but also symptoms such as fever, pelvic pain, and vaginal discharge.
#3. Vaginismus
Vaginismus is a condition in which the muscles in the vaginal area contract involuntarily. Once this happens, intercourse becomes painful or impossible.
#4. Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a medical condition in which the tissue that usually lines the uterus grows outside. This growth can cause pain during intercourse and other symptoms.
#5. Ovarian cysts
Ovarian cysts can cause sharp pain in sexually active women. These cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can develop on the ovaries. When they get large, they can cause pain during intercourse.
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#6. Fibroids
Fibroids are noncancerous growths in the uterus that can cause pain during intercourse. Not only does it cause painful sex, but also heavy menstrual bleeding and other symptoms.
#7. Menopause
As women go through menopause, their bodies produce less estrogen. Less estrogen can cause vaginal dryness and make intercourse uncomfortable or painful. Thankfully, there is new treatment and medicine to reduce painful intercourse after menopause.
#8. Painful vulva
One of the physical causes of pain during intercourse in women is a painful vulva. This condition occurs, on average, in around 30, in 3 to 14 percent of women.
Other causes of pain during sex include;
- radiation and chemotherapy
- hysterectomy, or pelvic surgery
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- skin disorders that cause ulcers, cracks, itching, or burning
- injury or trauma from childbirth, an accident, or an episiotomy.
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How Can I reduce pain during intercourse using home and natural remedies?
Although painful intercourse is familiar, it is not without treatment. There are natural remedies for painful intercourse and medicine to reduce pain during intercourse. If caused by menopause, there is a new treatment for painful intercourse after menopause.
Here we have categorized how to reduce pain during sex, mainly focusing on natural and home remedies.
Natural Remedies For Painful Intercourse
These are home remedies to reduce pain during intercourse;
- Discuss it with your partner.
- Empty your bladder before sex.
- Always take a warm bath before intercourse.
- Apply water-soluble lube before intercourse.
- Take a pain reliever before and after sexual intimacy.
- Apply an ice pack to the vulva to calm the burning after sex.
- Engage in sexual activity with your partner when you are relaxed.
- Engage in longer foreplay. This can help stimulate your natural lubrication.
- Delay penetration. You might reduce pain by delaying penetration until you feel fully aroused.
- If you have sharp pain during thrusting, try different sexual positions. By doing so, you might be able to regulate the level of penetration and depth that feels good to you.
Medicine to Reduce Pain During Intercourse
Although there are natural remedies for painful intercourse, the effect may take a long time. As such, some medications can help you reduce your sharp pain when you’re sexually active.
It’s important to know that while taking a medicine to reduce pain during intercourse is more swift when it comes to its effect, there could be side effects.
Hence it is important to seek medical assistance and a prescription before using any of the medications we will list below. Also, note that dyspareunia treatments are based on the condition’s cause.
Here are medications that can help you reduce the sharp pain you have when you’re sexually active;
- antibiotics
- antifungal medicines
- topical or injectable corticosteroids
- Estrogen-free drugs such as ospemifene
- An estrogen prescription tablet, cream, or flexible ring.
Alternative therapies to reduce pain during sexual intercourse
Having employed the use of home remedies, natural remedies, and medications to reduce pain during sex and still has no result, there are other strategies you can do to reduce this pain. This includes taking therapy.
As discussed with your doctor, therapy can be recommended. This can include desensitization therapy or sex therapy.
Desensitization therapy
Desensitization therapy is also known as sensate focus therapy. This is a behavioral therapy that involves increasing levels of sexual stimulation gradually in a safe and supportive environment. This is aimed at reducing pain and discomfort during sexual activity.
This therapy involves;
- Mindfulness
- Breathing exercises
- Communicating with your partner and therapist.
- Sexual touch, such as kissing and genital touching.
- Vaginal relaxation techniques such as Kegel exercises.
- Non-sexual touch and intimacy, such as holding hands or hugging.
Each of these steps can come sequentially or at varying times. Remember that desensitization therapy may not be appropriate for everyone due to the level of openness required.
Sex Therapy
In sex therapy, you can learn how to reestablish intimacy and improve communication with your partner with the help of a therapist. Sex therapy may involve several different approaches, depending on the specific needs of the individual.
The therapist may refer the individual for medical treatment if the pain is medical. Alternatively, if the pain is psychological, the therapist will help the individual to identify and manage those issues through;
- Sensate focus therapy
- Communication skills training
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
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Frequently Asked Questions About How To Reduce Pain During Intercourse Home Remedies
What is another name for painful intercourse?
Another name for painful sexual intercourse in medical terminology is dyspareunia. Dyspareunia is a complex disorder that often goes neglected. It occurs mainly in women.
Does pain during sexual intercourse mean infertility?
Painful intercourse during sex may indicate an underlying health condition that could cause infertility. For instance, one of the causes of pain during sex is uterine fibroids or endometriosis.
Fibroids are benign growths in the uterus that can cause infertility. Hence, it is recommended to seek medical assistance while using home remedies to reduce pain during sexual intercourse.
What is the most common cause of pain during intercourse?
As listed above, there are many causes of pain during sexual intercourse. However, the most common cause is sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Common STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, can cause vaginal irritation, which can cause pain during sex. Genital herpes, with its blisters and sores, can lead to pain on penetration. Also, vaginitis, which is an STD, can cause vaginal inflammation.
Read Also: 13 Things That Causes Vaginal Dryness
What to do after intercourse pain?
To reduce the pain you feel after sexual intercourse, there are natural, home remedies, as well as a medicine you can take to reduce the painful effect of sex immediately. Here’s what to do to find relief;
- Take antibiotics
- Go for hormonal treatment.
- Use an ice pack on the affected area.
- Engage in pelvic floor muscle exercises.
- Talk about it with your partner and find better sexual positions.
What’s the new Treatment for Painful Intercourse after Menopause?
There are several new treatments available for painful intercourse after menopause. One of the most promising treatments is a class of medications called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). SERMs mimic the effects of estrogen in the body and improve vaginal dryness, thinning, and inflammation.
Another new treatment for painful intercourse after menopause is a laser therapy called CO2 fractional laser treatment. This is designed to stimulate collagen production and improve the health and elasticity of vaginal tissue.
Conclusion
It’s quite discomforting having to feel pain from an act that should give you the utmost pleasure. Although painful sex is common and can be sidelined by pretending it’s not there, finding cures and relief is an absolute necessity.
Following our home remedies, natural remedies, and medications to reduce the pain you experience during sexual intercourse can help you find relief from this painful sex situation.
However, it’s expedient; you seek therapy where needed and medical assistance before humping on a medicine to reduce pain during intercourse.
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