Ever gone into a sexual encounter expecting to "ooh" but felt an "ouch" instead? If so, you're not
alone. Pain during sex affects 15 percent of women in America. Here are six common causes of those
stings and burns, and what you can do to put the "ahh" back in your sex life.
Dryness
Vaginal dryness is perhaps the most common cause of painful sex, and can be brought on by an array
of things. In addition to lack of foreplay and decreased libido, other culprits include birth control,
childbirth, smoking, allergy medications and menopause or perimenopause (the three-to-six-year period
before menstruation stops). Also, breastfeeding can be a lube snatcher. "Anything that affects a woman's
hormone levels is going to potentially have an effect on her lubrication," says Dr. Sandor Gardos,
clinical sexologist and founder of MyPleasure.com.
AhhAchiever: You can liven up your experience to get the juices back flowing, so to speak. Or
for a quick fix, use an over-the-counter lubricant, such as
Astroglide. If you suspect your birth
control is to blame, talk to your doctor about switching brands or methods, until you find one that
doesn't have this effect. Estrogen therapy can help with menopausal dryness. If allergy meds play a
part in your life, ensure you use one without antihistamine. "Antihistamines dry out all your membranes,
not just the ones in your nose and eyes," Gardos explains.
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