Sexual Health Is Sexual Intercourse Painful for You? Causes of Pain and Discomfort During Sex Print By Tracee Cornforth | Medically reviewed by Meredith Shur, MD Updated November 25, 2018 Troels Graugaard/E+/Getty Images More in Sexual Health Birth Control STDs Reproductive Health Issues Abortion Many women experience pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse at some point in their lives. Pain during sex can be traced to many causes, some of them temporary and others the source of ongoing pain. If you have frequent or severe pain during sex, you should discuss it with your doctor to find a solution. Here are the most common sources. Vaginal Infection You may not have noticeable symptoms with infections such as vaginal yeast infections and trichomoniasis except during sexual intercourse. The rubbing motion of the penis against the vagina and genitalia sometimes causes the symptoms of stinging or burning to intensify. Other infections such as genital herpes sores are a frequent cause of pain during sex. Vaginal Irritation Many products contain substances that can cause vaginal irritation, leading to discomfort or pain during vaginal sexual intercourse. These include: Contraceptive foams, creams, or jelliesAllergic reactions to condoms, diaphragms, or latex glovesVaginal deodorant spraysScented tamponsDeodorant soapsLaundry detergentsVaginal douching Vaginal Dryness Vaginal dryness often causes painful sexual intercourse. Using a vaginal lubricant can help if you have vaginal dryness. You may have reduced natural lubrication due to several factors: Trying to achieve vaginal penetration too fast before enough stimulation has occurred to allow normal vaginal lubrication to take placeFeeling nervous or tense about the sexual experience, slowing the release of vaginal lubricationUsing a condom without the addition of a vaginal lubricant, such as K-Y Jelly. Saliva is acceptable for vaginal lubrication, but never use petroleum-based products, as they can deteriorate condoms and contribute to vaginal infections.Hormonal imbalance after menopause, the years preceding menopause, or following childbirth. Vaginal lubrication methods listed above may help. Menopausal women may benefit from a prescribed vaginal estrogen cream. Vaginal Tightness This occasionally happens when you feel tense or are not fully relaxed when penetration occurs. Difficulty penetrating a tight vagina can happen even when vaginal lubrication is not a problem. The first few times you engage in sexual intercourse, the vagina may be tight due to an unstretched hymen, which can cause pain at the time of penetration. Sometimes a more severe condition called vaginismus is responsible for vaginal tightness. Women with vaginismus experience strong, involuntary muscle spasms of the vaginal muscles during sexual intercourse or vaginal insertion of a tampon or finger. Pain of the Clitoris The clitoris is the most sensitive part of the female genitalia. Gentle touching or rubbing of the clitoris is extremely pleasurable for some women, while it is unbearably painful for others. Clitoral pain may also occur due to poor hygiene; vaginal secretions may collect under the clitoral hood and may lead to pain if not properly cleaned. Pelvic Pain Occasionally, a woman will experience pelvic pain upon deep, thrusting penetration. Many conditions may cause this pain, including: Tears in the ligaments that support the uterus. Causes include problems during childbirth, abortion, previous violent sexual intercourse, or rape.Cervical, uterine, or tubal infections, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)Pelvic adhesions following pelvic surgery or PIDEndometriosisOvarian cystsUterine fibroid tumors Vulvodynia Vulvodynia is a chronic condition that is painful and often hard to diagnose. It causes a burning and/or stinging sensation of the vulva and vagina. A Word From Verywell Pain or discomfort are never part of normal sexual intercourse. If you experience pain during sex, don't be afraid to tell your partner, who has no way of knowing that you're uncomfortable unless you talk about what you're feeling. Also, make sure to see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Email Address Sign Up There was an error. Please try again. Thank you, , for signing up. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources When Sex is Painful. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Continue Reading