Why Are You Experiencing Painful Sex? 4 Relations It Has With Vaginal Dryness?

Pain during sexual intercourse is medically known as dyspareunia. It can have various causes, both physical and psychological. The pain is felt in the genital region. Women can have pain externally in the vulvar region to the labia (lips of the vagina) or at the opening to the vagina. Some feel the pain internally in the cervix, uterus or lower abdomen.

It’s a common condition that can have negative emotional and psychological effects. In addition to the physical pain, couples may suffer from loss of intimacy or experience strain in their relationship.

 

What Are Some Symptoms of Painful Sex and Vaginal Dryness?

Some common symptoms found in people experiencing painful sex especially due to vaginal dryness are: 

• Pain or discomfort: You may experience pain or a burning sensation during penetration, which can occur at the vaginal opening or deeper inside the vagina.
• Stinging or soreness: Some individuals may feel a stinging or soreness during or after intercourse.
• Throbbing pain: The pain may be described as a throbbing sensation in the genital area.
• Tightness or muscle spasms: Vaginismus, a condition where the vaginal muscles involuntarily tighten, can also cause pain during intercourse.
• Lack of lubrication: Vaginal dryness is characterized by insufficient natural lubrication in the vagina, leading to increased friction during intercourse.
• Itching and irritation: Dryness in the vaginal area may cause itching, burning, or general discomfort.
• Pain or discomfort during daily activities: Vaginal dryness can lead to discomfort during activities like walking, exercising, or sitting.
• Urinary symptoms: Some women may experience urinary symptoms like increased frequency or urgency due to the dryness irritating the urethra.

 

 

 

Why Are You Experiencing Painful Sexual Intercourse?

There could be a wide variety of reasons for why you might be experiencing pain during or after sexual intercourse. Some of them are: 

• Lack of Lubrication: Insufficient vaginal lubrication can make sex uncomfortable or painful. This can be due to various factors, such as hormonal changes, stress, certain medications, or inadequate arousal.
• Vaginal Infections or Conditions: Infections like yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis, as well as conditions like vaginismus (involuntary muscle spasms in the vaginal wall), endometriosis, or pelvic inflammatory disease, can cause pain during intercourse.
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Some STIs can cause irritation or inflammation in the genital area, leading to pain during sex.
• Vaginal Dryness Due To Menopause: Hormonal changes during menopause can lead to vaginal dryness and thinning of the vaginal walls, making sex painful.
• Physical Issues: Certain structural issues like uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, or pelvic organ prolapse can cause discomfort during intercourse.
• Psychological Factors: Emotional issues like anxiety, depression, past trauma, or relationship problems can contribute to painful sex.

 

Who Is More At Risk For Painful Sex?

Pain during sex is more common in women. It can affect both men (male dyspareunia) and women (female dyspareunia) of all ages. The pain is often due to physical factors or medical conditions, but it can also be psychological. 

Moreover, when painful sex is experienced specifically due to vaginal dryness, it is more likely to happen to women or people assigned female at birth. 

How Does Vaginal Dryness Cause Painful Sex?

Vaginal dryness is a common symptom that you will likely experience at some point in your life. Several conditions and factors cause your vagina to become dry such as menopause or taking certain medications. This dry feeling can lead to painful sex or burning, itching and soreness in your genitals. It can indeed lead to painful sex. Vaginal dryness occurs when there is insufficient lubrication in the vaginal area, which can result in discomfort or pain during intercourse. Several factors can cause vaginal dryness, including:

• Hormonal Changes: Hormonal fluctuations, such as those that occur during menopause or while breastfeeding, can lead to decreased estrogen levels. Estrogen helps maintain vaginal lubrication, so lower levels can cause dryness.
• Stress and Anxiety: Emotional factors like stress and anxiety can affect the body’s natural lubrication process and lead to vaginal dryness.
• Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions like Sjogren’s syndrome and certain autoimmune disorders can cause vaginal dryness.
• Chemical Irritants: The use of harsh soaps, perfumes, or douches in the genital area can irritate the delicate tissues and disrupt the natural lubrication.

 

 

How Do I Manage Vaginal Dryness and Painful Sex?

To address painful sex caused by vaginal dryness, there are several approaches you can consider:

• Use Natural Lubricants: Using natural lubricants like coconut oil or aloe vera can provide relief by reducing friction during intercourse.
• Natural Vaginal Moisturizers: Using natural oils to moisturize the vaginal area can prove to be extremely beneficial for avoiding painful sex.
• Hydration: Drinking at least 1.5-2L of water a day can help in keeping the vagina moisturized and healthy and reduce chances of painful sex.
• Avoid Irritants: Be mindful of the products you use in the genital area and opt for natural, gentle and fragrance-free options.
• Foreplay and Arousal: Engaging in longer periods of foreplay can help promote natural lubrication and reduce discomfort during intercourse.
• Communication With Your Partner: Openly communicating with your partner about your feelings and discomfort can help create a supportive and understanding environment during intimacy.

 

The ten modern lifestyle root causes for hormonal imbalance related to PCOS that may on some level lead to vaginal dryness and painful sex are:

• Food Related Causes– Inflammation, toxicity, acidity, excess male hormones, insulin resistance.
• Exercise Related Causes: Sedentary lifestyle, lack of muscle strength, excess ovarian fat.
• Sleep Related Causes: Poor sleep quality (Lack of Deep Sleep).
• Stress Related Causes: Chronic Stress.  Addressing these triggers through an integrated approach can naturally restore hormonal balance.

 

How can the Five Pillars Integrated Lifestyle Approach Help You to have Hormonal Balance and Help With Relieving Pain During Sex and Vaginal Dryness?

• Eat Right: Embrace living, water-rich, whole, plant-based foods that nurture our genetic potential. By opting for local and seasonal choices, we honor nature’s wisdom. Eliminating packaged and processed foods liberates us from epigenetic imprints, elevating our hormonal health.
• Move More: Embark on a journey of holistic lifestyle changes, where staying active transcends mere exercise. Embracing constant movement throughout the day optimizes epigenetic expression, igniting hormonal balance. Engage in pleasurable physical activities, dance, or even mindful walks to unlock the power of epigenetic triggers.
• Breathe Aware: As we deepen our understanding of Pranayama, the science of breath, we access a profound gateway to support gland function and harmonize hormones. Harnessing the breath’s epigenetic influence, we transcend the ordinary and elevate our hormonal well-being.
• Sleep Better: Unlock the secrets of deep sleep, a transformative practice for healing and regeneration. With the art of Yog Nidra, we embrace epigenetic potential, unearthing hormonal harmony in the realm of dreams. Rejuvenate your entire being through this exquisite dance with the epigenetic clock.
• Mind Free: Journey into the realm of emotions, thoughts, and stress resilience, where journaling, gratitude, and emotional practices become our guiding compass. Embracing epigenetic intelligence, we shift our narrative from stress to serenity, empowering our hormonal landscape.

 

In Conclusion,

We may say that it is important to note that both painful sex and vaginal dryness can have various underlying causes like PCOS, menopause and some medical conditions. Some causes may be more common during certain life stages, such as menopause, but they can also affect women of all ages. But it can most definitely be managed through the use of various natural means for hydration and moisturization coupled with regular communication with your partner to ensure good vaginal health and reduce your chances of experiencing painful sex!