When Sex Hurts

When Sex Hurts

By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA

Published MOD July 2010

SEX hurts. Many say it hurts the first time women do it. But then you’ve already done it several times, yet a feeling of discomfort and pain manages to outdo your sexual satisfaction.

This problem is called painful intercourse or dyspareunia. Dr. Judy Ann Uy-de Luna of the Obstetrics and Gynecology department of St. Luke's Medical Center, says, “Dyspareunia is a sexual dysfunction that frequently has an organic basis regardless if it’s your first time or not.”

Dyspareunia can be caused by many reasons. Says Dr. Uy-de Luna, “Factors such as poor lubrication results to vaginal dryness; vaginal infections; urethritis or inflammation of the urethra which is difficult urination; cystitis or inflammation of the urinary bladder; trigonitis, a condition of inflammation of the trigone region of the bladder; episiotomy or poorly healed vaginal lacerations; and diseases such as pelvic inflammatory disease and endometriosis can all be attributed to these organic causes.”

Lack of foreplay can also cause painful intercourse. “Sexual response problem or lack of arousal decreases the woman's ability to become sexually aroused and to become vaginally lubricated,” says Dr. Uy-de Luna. “It could also be secondary to Vaginismus or a condition that is secondary to involuntary spasm usually in the vaginal introital (or the opening of the vagina) and levator ani muscles resulting to painful or impossible penetration.”

Birth control pills not only affect ovulation as some side effects can cause certain mood swings. “Certain oral contraceptive pills can cause adverse mood changes such as depression, irritability, tension, and fatigue which affect a woman's sexual behavior,” Dr. Uy-de Luna warns.

One technique that Dr. Uy-de Luna recommends to lessen the pain is by experimenting with your sexual positions. “There are instances that dyspareunia can be relieved by changing coital position. Couples should be encouraged to experiment with female-dominant and side-by-side positions to see if the pain can be prevented,” she said.

If you experience pain during intercourse, it is wise to see your obstetrician immediately. Dr. Uy-de Luna also advises that the physician should obtain a careful history when the dyspareunia occurs, whether during insertion of the penis, at the mid-vagina during thrusting, or with deep penetration of the vault to pinpoint the organic cause and subsequently treat specific pathologic conditions.