Painful Sexual Intercourse in Women

5.4.2 PAINFUL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE IN WOMEN


Apart from genital injuries and diseases, the most common cause of pain during coitus in women is a lack of sufficient vaginal lubrication. This may be due to the aging process and can then be treated with hormone replacement, in other cases, insufficient lubrication simply indicates that the woman is not sufficiently aroused and is not ready for coitus. (The male parallel would be lacking erection.)


Some women may experience pain because of an unusually thick hymen which prevents the penis from even entering the vagina. In such a rare case, local minor surgery can help. (Some slight discomfort may be fe!t by many women during their first attempts at coitus. However, the penetration of the hymen is usually accomplished easily, and any discomfort disappears quickly,)


Another cause of pain, burning, and itching in the vagina is infection by a venereal disease. Trichomonal organisms or an overgrowth of yeast (monilia) may cause similar symptoms. (For details, see "Venereal Diseases.") Such symptoms may also occur when a couple engages first in anal and then in vaginal intercourse without a thorough washing of the penis in between. In such cases, the penis carries rectal bacteria into the vagina where they cause infection. The obvious solution is washing the penis with soap and water immediately after withdrawal from the rectum and before resuming any other form of sexual intercourse. Coitus can also become painful for women who suffer from cystitis (an inflammation of the bladder). Clearly, in such cases, medical treatment is indicated.


Vaginal sensitivity can develop as a reaction to chemicals used in contraceptive or douching preparations. In such cases, the use of the offending substances has to be discontinued. (As a rule, vaginal douching is unnecessary and may be harmful.)


Still another cause of pain during coitus is a thinning of the vaginal walls in older women. The condition can be improved by hormonal treatment.


Finally, some women may develop an unpleasant sensitivity of the clitoris, either because some secretions have accumulated under the foreskin of the clitoris causing irritation or because the head of the clitoris has been overstimulated by the male partner. (This misguided practice may be the result of bad advice given in some marriage manuals.)


 
 

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