Tue, Oct 23, 2007
AsiaOne
Sex is painful for me but friends tell me that's normal. Or is it?
Having sex should not be painful!
It should be something that couples can look forward to for intimacy, sharing and pleasure. But why does it hurt sometimes?
There are a few considerations.
1) Discomfort arises when there is inadequate foreplay. If the vagina remains dry at the time of sexual intercourse, the vaginal lining gets irritated, and this causes abrasions that lead to pain and soreness.
2) Pain also results from previous bad experiences with sex.
It can happen in those who have a fear of intercourse, who have guilty feelings about sex, or those with a previous traumatic experience or emotional scar. In these cases, counseling therapy is required and it may take time to overcome these problems.
3) Infections also cause pain and soreness during intercourse. Even a simple fungal infection can cause discomfort. When the infection is more severe and the fallopian tubes are affected, adhesions in the pelvis may occur and this can lead to pain.
4) Endometriosis, a condition in which tissue grows in the pelvis or the ovaries and gives rise to 'blood cysts' outside the uterus, can also cause sex to be painful.
It often occurs during deeper penetration and present itself as lower abdominal pain. In more severe cases, the woman may even stop having sexual intercourse. The reason behind this is the inflammation and scarring caused by the endometriosis.
5) One more group of women- those in the menopause stage, may also experience painful sex when the vagina dries out due to hormonal insufficiency. Because of their low estrogen levels, older women may not respond to more foreplay. Instead, they will need lubricants or hormonal therapy in the form of oral medication or vaginal cream or tablets.
The above article was contributed by Dr Fong Yoke Fai. He is a consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the National University Hospital.
If you have any questions related to the above article, please email to us at Just Woman, and quote in the subject title: JW: Women's Health
