Painful Sex? These 5 Tips Can Help
Sex should be a wonderful, pleasurable, and most importantly, enjoyable experience for all parties involved. Unfortunately for many women, sex can be incredibly painful for different reasons. We want to shed more light on the top 5 sex tips to not only help you overcome painful sex but to experience more pleasure along the way.
Common Causes for Painful Sex
There may be several different reasons you’re experiencing pain during sex or foreplay — from vaginal health issues to menopausal symptoms. Keep in mind that although this may be common, sex is not meant to be painful.
Here are a few common causes for painful sex:
- Vaginal dryness
- Infections (i.e. urinary tract infection)
- Pelvic floor injury
- Ovarian cysts
5 Tips for Reducing Painful Sex
No matter how often sex is a part of your life, whether that be once a month or twice a day, sex should always be pain-free and fun! Here are 5 tips to help you find more pleasure in your sexual experiences.
1. Find a quality lubricant
Lube features as a great product to help increase vaginal lubrication and minimize friction or discomfort during penetration. As you play around, you’ll experience the different lube sensations either during solo play or with a partner. Oftentimes, this can make all the difference. Always read and follow product label before use.
2. Try new positions
It’s normal that some positions may be a little more sensitive than others. If you’re feeling pain during any given position, switch it up to be on top and control your movements and depth of penetration to whatever feels the best for you. Lube for couples usually amplifies this experience even further.
3. Don’t rush through sex
When pain is the problem, it can be helpful to take it slower with your partner. Take your time to play around with foreplay or even incorporate sex toys to spice things up. This can also help to work up your sex drive and better prepare your body and mind for what’s to come.
4. Try counselling or sex therapy
If you and your partner have avoided sex altogether due to pain, counselling and/or sex therapy is a great way to help improve communication and restore sexual intimacy.Cognitive-behavioural therapy is a beneficial strategy to change negative thought patterns and get to the root cause of your symptoms.
5. Talk to your doctor
When in doubt, it’s important to consult with your doctor about your symptoms. Painful sex always has a cause and once identified, it’s likely treatable! Whether it’s a prescription for antibiotics to treat an infection or recommending lube types for vaginal dryness before & after sex, a doctor is sure to help address your symptoms.
