Infection and Inflammation: Infections can cause pain during intercourse. UTIs and STIs alike can make sex less than enjoyable and sometimes painful. Other conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and endometriosis can lead to chronic pelvic pain and discomfort during intercourse.

Injury: Perhaps you’re dealing with a Grey’s Anatomy McSteamy penile fracture. Pause for wincing. Trauma to the genitals as a result of accident or surgery can also make intercourse painful.

Peyronie’s Disease: A condition where scar tissue builds in the penis, causing your carrot to curve. Peyronie’s disease may also make erections painful, therefore making intercourse difficult.

Phimosis: No, it is not the antithesis of osmosis. Phimosis is the condition where the foreskin is too tight. Like your shaft’s sweater is one size too small. While “tight” usually has a positive connotation in the bedroom, overly tight foreskin can lead to pain during penetration.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: The muscles in your pelvic region can be a little too tense, making penetration uncomfortable or painful. Addressing pelvic floor dysfunction with targeted therapy can improve the situation.

Vaginismus & Vulvodynia: Both vaginismus (involuntary muscle spasms of the vaginal walls) and vulvodynia (chronic pain or discomfort around the vulva) can make intercourse painful or even impossible.

Atrophic Vaginitis: Often caused by hormonal changes, atrophic vaginitis leads to vaginal dryness and thinning tissue, which can contribute to discomfort or pain during sex.

Anxiety and stress: Psychological factors such as anxiety and depression may not directly cause dyspareunia, but they can contribute to or exacerbate the issue. Performance anxiety coupled with the fear of painful intercourse can keep you in your head, potentially leading to further sexual dysfunction.

Trauma: If you are a survivor of a negative sexual experience, trauma can lead to pain during intercourse. Genito-pelvic pain disorder is a broad term that includes physical and psychological factors affecting sexual comfort.

Antibiotics: If your pain is due to an infection, antibiotics can be prescribed.

Surgery: If your pain is caused by Peyronie’s disease or phimosis, surgical intervention is possible.

Physical therapy: Targeted exercises can relieve superficial dyspareunia and deep dyspareunia.

Pain relievers & hormone therapy: If atrophic vaginitis or other hormonal issues are the culprits, treatment may involve topical creams or hormone replacement therapy.

Mindfulness and relaxation techniques can help reduce anxiety and stress surrounding sex. To learn more about mindfulness and sex, click here.

Personal lubricants can help minimize friction, making things much more enjoyable. (Pro tip: Popstar’s got you covered!)