Dyspareunia is a medical term used to describe symptoms of pain experienced during sexual intercourse. Causes of dyspareunia can include emotional factors, such as stress, or medical complications, such as genital injury, irritation or infection. Speak with your doctor to discuss the treatments available for dyspareunia if you experience painful symptoms during sexual intercourse.
Medication
Certain types of infections, such as a urinary tract infection or sexually transmitted diseases, can cause dyspareunia in women or men. A doctor can prescribe appropriate medications to treat the infection responsible for your underlying symptoms of dyspareunia. If a medication you take on a regular basis causes lubrication problems, your doctor may recommend an alternate medication.
Sexual Technique Alterations
The position of a woman's body during sexual intercourse can contribute to painful dyspareunia symptoms. If your partner thrusts deeply during intercourse, the penis can push into the cervix or vaginal floor muscles. When this occurs, a woman can experience painful sensations of cramping or aching within her vagina or abdomen. Altering your physical position during intercourse may alleviate such symptoms. A woman who experiences dyspareunia may want to consider switching to a position that allows her to control the depth of penetration---such as the woman-on-top position.
Personal Lubricants
Vaginal dryness can make sexual intercourse uncomfortable for both men and women. If you experience dyspareunia, Medline Plus recommends using water-based lubricants to make intercourse more comfortable. Personal lubricants decrease the amount of stress placed on the sensitive genital skin during intercourse, which can treat dyspareunia.
Estrogen Therapy
Postmenopausal women have lower levels of estrogen in the body, which can interfere with the body's ability to become aroused. This decreases the amount of natural lubrication in the vagina and can contribute to painful symptoms associated with dyspareunia. Estrogen therapy, which can be administered as a tablet, cream or vaginal ring, increases the amount of estrogen in a woman's body, according to doctors at The Mayo Clinic. This form of therapy can encourage adequate vaginal lubrication, which can treat symptoms of dyspareunia.
Sex Therapy
People who have been sexually abused or have experienced dyspareunia for an extended period may respond negatively to sexual arousal or intercourse. To overcome these issues, you and your partner may benefit from sex therapy. Talking openly with your partner and therapist about your negative sexual emotions can help you learn how to deal with symptoms associated with dyspareunia.
