Painful Sex

For those who enjoy or would like to have penetrative sex, they may experience pain which makes this unpleasurable or not possible. Female pain may be caused by specific penetration problems such as Vaginismus, Dyspareunia or Vulvodynia. Vaginismus is the involuntary spasm which happens with our pelvic floor muscles making penetration impossible due to the closing of the vagina. Dyspareunia is the term used to describe the pain experienced during penetration and Vulvodynia is the term used to describe unexplained recurrent pain in the vulva.

Medical reasons for pain and pentration problems

There may be underlying issues such as urinary tract infections, skin conditions such as lichen sclerosis, eczema or psoriasis which require medical treatment therefore we would always recommend speaking to your GP in the first instance. Other factors such as Menopause, pregnancy or childbirth or general health conditions like diabetes, overactive bladder or thyroid problems can also lead to pain.

Sex Therapy for Pain and Penetration Problems

There are many psychological causes for pain and penetration problems, including:

The impact of past traumas
Any fears, anxieties or phobias around sex
Desire and arousal issues
Relationship problems
Lack of sex education and knowledge
Anxiety due to religious or cultural beliefs
Pressure to conceive a baby

A professional sex therapist will complete a full assessment to identify the main psychological causes of your pain and penetration problems and will then support you, through a series of cognitive and behavioural processes, to break the cycle of pain and establish full sexual activity.

Sex therapists are specially trained to work with sexual issues and it is something they talk about all day long. Don't let embarrassment prevent you from getting the help that you need.