Pain during sex is super common: Three out of four women experience it, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Some women may feel vaginal dryness, “tightness,” or even severe pain during intercourse. Other women may feel soreness or burning in their vagina or vulva afterward.
In this video, learn how sex can become painful because of a gynecological issue, such as ovarian cysts or endometriosis, lack of sexual desire or arousal, and factors like mental health and medications.
References
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2022). When sex is painful.
Kingsberg, S., et al. (2023). Female sexual pain: evaluation. UpToDate.
The North American Menopause Society. (n.d.). Pain with penetration.
Why trust our experts?
Written by:
Brittany DoohanBrittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.
Reviewed by:
Karen Hovav, MD, FAAPKaren Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.
