Everything to do with sex should be pleasurable, enjoyable and fun. The fact is, when sex is painful, it means something isn’t right. And this is more common than we realise. However, it’s often kept quiet, so it goes unresolved and ends up having a direct impact on a woman’s quality of life and wellbeing.

Let us explain – in case you haven’t yet listened to the Planeta V podcast – that dyspareunia is precisely this: experiencing pain during vaginal penetration or when attempting penetration.

Causes of dyspareunia

The causes of dyspareunia can vary greatly, as there are physical causes, but also emotional or psychological ones.

On the physical side, causes include:

• Lack of lubrication: if there is no stimulation prior to penetration, sexual intercourse can be painful. We recommend using a lubricant such as Mucus, which is water-based and contains hyaluronic acid and lactic acid to keep the intimate area soft and moisturised.

• Vaginal dryness: at certain stages of life, we may experience vaginal dryness, for example, during the menopause, after childbirth, whilst breastfeeding, after menstruation, or when taking certain medicines… At these times, it is important to use an internal moisturiser to hydrate the intimate area and prevent painful intercourse. We recommend our Internal Moisturiser in a gel-cream formula.

• Infections of the vulva or vagina: an occasional infection in the vulvovaginal area can cause discomfort during penetration.

• Vaginismus: the contraction of the muscles in the vaginal wall can prevent penetration due to pain.

• Other causes include conditions affecting the uterus or ovaries, endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, genitourinary atrophy, and autoimmune diseases…

However, there may also be psychological causes, such as:

• Stress or anxiety: how we feel psychologically has a direct impact on our bodies. If we feel stressed or anxious, the pelvic floor muscles will contract, and this can cause pain during sexual intercourse.

• Traumatic past experiences, such as sexual abuse, can lead to a feeling of fear or dread of sexual intercourse, which can directly cause pain.

In any case, as gynaecologist Miriam Al Adib explains in the podcast, the most important thing is to identify the cause and treat it. We mustn’t just put up with it!

Symptoms of dyspareunia

The most common symptoms of dyspareunia, which we need to be aware of so that we can consult a specialist if we experience them, are:

• Pain during vaginal penetration.
• Pain during penetration in general, for example, when inserting a tampon.
• Abdominal and pelvic pain.
• Vaginal itching, discomfort or a burning sensation.
• Vulvar or vaginal bleeding.

Tips for minimising pain during sexual intercourse

As Laura Cámara, a sexologist and sex therapist, points out, the key is to address the physical cause of the pain with a medical professional, or with a psychologist or sexologist if the cause is emotional.

However, there isn’t always an organic cause, so these tips may be useful in helping to minimise pain:

• Communication with your partner is essential. If you experience pain during penetration, it is vital to talk to your partner so that you can make changes to your sexual practices to help avoid this pain.

• Take time for foreplay. Penetration does not have to be the aim of a sexual encounter. In fact, Marta Torrón made this crystal clear in our previous podcast. However, if intercourse does take place, it is important to ensure you are sufficiently aroused, that is, with the vaginal area well lubricated to facilitate penetration.

• Changing sexual positions is a good way to avoid those that may cause more pain during penetration.

• Using a lubricant that mimics cervical mucus will help to moisturise and soothe the vaginal area, especially in cases of dryness, thereby making sexual intercourse more comfortable.