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Why does it hurt when I have sex? Causes and Treatments
Having a healthy sex life is essential for anyone. But when you're having pain during sex, it can take a toll on mental health and relationships. It's estimated that 31% of men and 43% of women have sexual dysfunction, showing the prevalence of sexual pain. (1) Despite how common painful sex can be, most people don't talk about why sex hurts. Or perhaps live each day wondering what is causing the pain during sex and struggling to find the right treatment. This article will provide answers as to why does it hurt when I have sex? Cause of painful intercourse The causes of pain during sex are different for each person. It could be because of a pelvic pain condition or a vaginal infection. Another possible reason is going through menopause or experiencing erectile dysfunction. In some cases, pain with intercourse comes from sexual abuse. Pelvic pain conditions Sex pain can happen when you have a pelvic pain condition. (2) Some common pelvic pain conditions include: Vulvodynia: It’s stinging or burning pelvic pain around the opening of the vagina. The throbbing pain can be ongoing or comes and goes for no apparent cause. A simple touch or pressure from sexual intercourse can cause unbearable vaginal muscle pain. Dyspareunia: It's a pain during sexual intercourse that can come from psychological or medical reasons. Painful sexual penetration can come from deep thrusting or even occur on the surface of the genitalia or pelvic floor. Pelvic radiation therapy: When you have radiation therapy to your pelvis, it can cause the shortening or narrowing of the vagina or vaginal stenosis. Pelvic radiation can result in scar tissue in the vagina, making sexual intercourse painful. Vaginismus: It's the involuntary contraction or spasm of the pelvic floor muscles and vaginal wall. The deep pain can occur from inserting a tampon, having sex, or even undergoing a gynecological exam. Vaginal atrophy: This condition is extreme dryness in the vagina. There are different reasons for vaginal dryness, ranging from having pelvic radiation therapy to experiencing menopause. Vaginal Agenesis: This uncommon condition (1 out of 5,000) is a congenital disability that causes the vagina not to form completely. (3) Some women have a shorter vagina or don't have one at all. Vaginal agenesis can make sex extremely painful during penetration or not even possible. Vaginal infections Vaginal infections can cause it to hurt during sex. The most common vaginal infection is a yeast infection. Vaginal yeast infections usually affect women the most between the age of 20-40 and come from antibiotics, poor hygiene, or tissue damage from radiation therapy. (4) Another common vaginal infection is a urinary tract infection (UTI). When you have a UTI, you may have a burning or stinging sensation, have a persistent urge to urinate, and cloudy urine. (5) Sexually transmitted diseases According to Planned Parenthood, sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are common and can occur from oral, vaginal, or anal sex. (6) Without treatment, STDs can cause other serious health concerns, such as pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. The most common sexually transmitted infections are the following: Chlamydia Genital warts Gonorrhea Herpes Hepatitis B Scabies Some sexually transmitted diseases may come with no symptoms, but some can cause burning or stinging pain during sex. Interstitial cystitis Interstitial cystitis is a chronic problem that causes ongoing bladder pain, bladder pressure, and at times pelvic pain and inflammation. It's more common for women to have this condition and can cause frequent urination and pain during sexual intercourse. (7) Ovarian cysts Ovarian cysts are pockets of pus on your ovaries that may cause a pressure or bloating on your lower abdomen. (8) Each month, a woman's body produces an egg that's released from the ovaries. As the egg is generated, it puts pressure on the cysts, leading to possible pain and discomfort. Treatments for painful intercourse Finding health solutions for why it hurts when you have sex, depends on whether the pain comes from a medical condition that requires medication or one that may benefit from physical therapy. Vaginal Dilators Vaginal dilators or vaginal trainers are tube-shaped devices that help stretch and lengthen the vagina and pelvic muscles naturally. It's a kind of physical therapy that occurs in the privacy of your own home at your speed. Many conditions benefit from using vaginal dilators to ease pain and discomfort so you can have a healthy sex life. When you work with vaginal dilators, you'll discover that vaginismus or vulvodynia disappears. If you have scar tissue from radiation therapy, VuVa™ Dilators break apart the painful tissue to transform sexual intercourse. Medications If the problem has to do with lubrication or vaginal atrophy from radiation therapy or menopause, there are treatments available. During menopause, women's hormones fluctuate wildly, and estrogen levels may plummet. Postmenopausal women may develop dyspareunia due to these low levels of estrogen. Estrogen is an essential female sex hormone responsible for helping to balance menstruation and fertility. Low levels cause vaginal dryness, insomnia, and mood swings (among other symptoms). While controversial, one standard treatment is estrogen hormone replacement therapy (ERT). You add back the missing estrogen to alleviate the symptoms. (9) Counseling or sex therapy In combination with vaginal dilators or medication, you may also benefit from counseling. If your response to sex is harmful and triggers an emotional and physical response that makes the experience painful, sex therapy may help you. Experiencing pain during intercourse causes men and women to feel alone and ashamed. There’s no reason to suffer. Vaginal dilators and therapy have helped thousands of people have the sex lives they deserve. Pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11122954/ Webmd.com/women/ss/slideshow-pelvic-pain-causes Urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/v/vaginal-abnormalities-vaginal-agenesis Merckmanuals.com/home/women-s-health-issues/vaginal-infections-and-pelvic-inflammatory-disease/overview-of-vaginal-infections Mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353447 Plannedparenthood.org/learn/stds-hiv-safer-sex Mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/interstitial-cystitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354357 Womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/ovarian-cysts Mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/painful-intercourse/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20375973 VuVa Helpful Links: 7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen How to use Vaginal Dilators How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life! Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators
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Worried About Whether Vulvodynia is Contagious? Will I pass it to someone else?
When you first experience the burning, uncomfortable pain of vulvodynia, your mind is likely to start reeling with questions. Naturally you’ll want to get rid of that pain as soon as possible, and when you don’t know much about this difficult condition, you could be forgiven for wondering about whether vulvodynia is contagious or not. At Vuvatech we are all about putting your mind at ease, as well as helping you to find solutions for vulvodynia. We don’t stop there though; our expertise extends to many other gynecological problems that women experience every day. So if you are concerned about the possibility of catching vulvodynia, please read on… Is vulvodynia contagious or not? In a world where there are so many contagious conditions, it pays to be alert and aware of what you might contract. Having said that, obsessing about these things isn’t very healthy… but when you are experiencing unusual symptoms in your body, it’s sensible to try to understand them. So, can vulvodynia be passed on? It’s an interesting question, and definitely worth considering. Actually, the answer is no - it can’t. Vulvodynia is not contagious. You can rest assured that you won’t be able to catch vulvodynia from anybody else. Likewise, if you already have vulvodynia, you don’t need to worry about whether you can pass vulvodynia to another woman. If vulvodynia is not contagious, how do you get it? Now that you know it’s not possible to contract vulvodynia, you might be wondering how you get it (or got it). There is no straight answer to this one unfortunately, but we can give you some insight into the most probable cause. We can confirm that vulvodynia is thought to be a neurological condition that develops from within – in the brain, to be precise. Although nothing is definitively confirmed to date, researchers think that nerve damage is the most likely cause of vulvodynia. However, there is still a lot of speculation on the causes of vulvodynia. It has even been theorized that vulvodynia could be a diabetic neuropathic syndrome. That doesn’t mean that you’ll definitely get vulvodynia if you’re diabetic; nor does it mean you have to be diabetic to develop vulvodynia. It just lends more credibility to the theory that vulvodynia is a neurological problem, since diabetics frequently suffer from those. Can you get rid of vulvodynia at all? Finally, you’ll probably be wondering whether vulvodynia pain is going to stick around or not. Rather than try to explain it in a couple of paragraphs, we’ll direct you to our other article on the topic: Can Vulvodynia Pain Go Away on its Own? If you’ve already been worrying about whether vulvodynia is contagious, we don’t want you to add more weight to your load with major concerns about longevity. Stress and anxiety can worsen the problem, so staying calm and being solutions orientated will help you a lot. With a condition such as vulvodynia it’s important to take one day at a time, and one step at a time. It’s highly likely that there will be a combination of vulvodynia treatments that can bring you good results, so it may be just a matter of finding them. That’s what we’re here for… so do take a look around the site! Other VuVa Helpful Links: 7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen How to use Vaginal Dilators How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life! Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators
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Will I Feel Pain Using Dilators?
Vaginal dilators are a godsend for women who suffer from gynecological issues of all kinds. Women commonly use them to help with cancer recovery, sexual disorders, vaginal tightness and even serious birth defects. Vaginal dilators (otherwise known as vaginal expanders) can help women to become accustomed to penetration (whether for sexual or medical reasons), as well as to return the vagina to a normal shape and size if necessary. We are often asked the question “are dilators painful?” so it seems that many women expect to feel pain using dilators. We want them to know that this isn’t the case, as if they’re expecting it, they may think it’s normal. Vaginal dilators stretch out the birth canal and restore normal function to your vagina. That may sound as if it could cause pain, but the truth is that using dilators shouldn’t be painful; if it hurts, something isn’t right. This article aims to help you understand what it should feel like to use dilators, and what to do if you’re feeling pain. Reasons you may feel pain using dilators If you’re feeling pain using dilators, it could be because of a gynecological disorder such as: Vaginismus Women with vaginismus feel pain through any kind of penetration, since the vaginal muscles constrict and spasm whenever penetration is attempted. However, this is a reason for using vaginal expanders, counterintuitive as that may sound. As the woman has control over this penetration, dilators can help to prepare her mentally and physically for sex, tampon use or examinations. However, at first use of dilators it may feel a little painful as she has to get past the initial fear causing the muscles to constrict. Over time, vaginal expanders can release tension in the pelvic floor in a safe and gentle way, making the prospect of penetration easier to accept and less painful. Vulvodynia If you have the painful condition called vulvodynia, you may experience some pain using dilators as vulvodynia can make it difficult to touch the vagina at all. Vulvodynia sufferers may feel burning or stinging pain in the vulva region, or a feeling of tenderness or rawness. If it hurts to touch the vaginal opening, initially you may feel some pain using dilators. However, when used to them women recover much more quickly. In a clinical trial conducted by Physician Care Clinical Research, 80% of participants said their vaginal pain had significantly lessened after dilation therapy. All participants reported decreased anxiety linked to the condition, plus noteworthy improvements in their sexual health. Neodymium dilators tend to help vulvodynia the most, as they increase blood flow to the area. How should it feel to use a vaginal dilator? If you feel that your vagina is too tight and want to try using vaginal dilators, know that they should simply feel snug after insertion. If you do feel pain using dilators, you should stop immediately and make sure that you are following the proper insertion techniques (as recommended in our link above). If you find that you are inserting them correctly, check whether you’re using one that’s too large. You can get dilators in various sizes, and the idea is that you start out with the smallest one and when that feels OK, you can move up to the next. You should feel some pressure when the dilator is inside you, and that’s an indication that you’re using the right size. Pain, on the other hand, may mean you need to reduce the size for the time being. Lastly, if you find that you bleed a little after using a dilator, don’t panic. Although pain using dilators in not usually a great sign, light bleeding can be normal when you first start out, since the birth canal is not yet used to it. If you’ve had cancer treatment, it may be even more likely; but once the vagina starts to stretch, it should stop. Spotting or light bleeding during or after first time use is not usually cause for alarm, but if it continues or the bleeding is heavy, you should stop and see a healthcare professional. Other VuVa Helpful Links: 7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen How to use Vaginal Dilators How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life! Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators
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Words of Wisdom - Tara Langdale Schmidt Founder of VuVa Vaginal Dilators
January 31, 2020 by Tara Langdale Schmidt Brilliance Wisdom is only valuable to the minds that will accept it and make room to store it for future use. You can share wisdom with anyone, but if they do not have a thirsty mind or enough drive to strive for greatness, it might not sink in. This is okay, share your wisdom with everyone you can, I promise you are helping change lives. You must share your ideas with everyone you can. Finding creative ways to interject your ideas and desires into conversations that are irrelevant to your passions is an entertaining challenge. You never know who can help you, or who you can help. This world functions on humans helping each other so continually spread your word. Do not focus on monetary rewards. Show your true worth before you demand a paycheck and money will naturally flow your direction. Time and effort are worth far more than promises. Work with people who make you feel comfortable and have your main objectives in mind. People will try to steer you off course, keep your feet firmly planted in your desired direction and keep reminding yourself of your goals. Surround yourself with positive thinkers and people who inspire and share their wisdom with you in a creative environment with the common goal of progress in mind. Instinct is one of the most amazing gifts we have as humans. Yes it can sometimes be off, but more times it is correct than wrong. Keep an open mind and use your instincts to guide you down a path you choose to achieve your goals. Whatever your dream may be, this is your story. Don’t let anyone else write it for you. It might take a while to write, and that is okay. Be kind, be fair and generous and stay alert. These are my words of wisdom. Cherish life and don’t ever let anyone tell you it can’t be done. Tara Langdale Schmidt I am the 31 year old inventor of the VuVa magnetic vaginal dilator set for women who experince pelvic pain. I suffered with Vulvodynia for 4 years. After countless hours of searching for treatments, I found vaginal dilators a successful treatment for pelvic pain. From my previous positive experience using magnets to reduce back and neck nerve pain after a car accident, I had the idea to incorporate neodymium magnets into a dilator set for pelvic pain. Due to her reduction in pain and positive feedback from doctors, Tara created VuVatech, a company dedicated to helping women with pelvic pain. I am from Ferndale, WA but relocated to Sarasota, FL 15 years ago with my family to enjoy the sunshine. For more information, please visit vuvatech.com Original post from InspireMeToday.com Recent Releases VuVa Magnetic Vaginal Dilators are a new, nonsurgical approach to helping millions of women suffering from multiple pelvic pain conditions and sexual discomfort. With more than 6 million women suffering from vulvodynia in the United States alone, women are looking for safe and effective treatments. In a double-blind, placebo clinical trial, VuVa was shown to reduce 80% of subjects' vulvar pain with magnetic dilators. VuVa Magnetic Dilator therapy can also be incorporated into treatment plans for other conditions, such as vaginismus, vulvar vestibulitis, dyspareunia, menopause, vaginal stenosis, vaginal atrophy, and vaginal dryness. Many women suffering from these pelvic pain conditions have been placed on heavy pain medications, anti-depressants, or have been advised to have invasive surgeries with low success rates. VuVa Dilators offer a low-cost, safe, noninvasive treatment option to renew the sexual desire and comfort these women deserve. VuVa Dilators are made in the United States.
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Why is my vagina sore after sex? Vulvar Vestibulitis could be the problem…
Vulvar vestibulitis (also known as provoked vestibulodynia) is the most common reason for superficial pain in the vaginal opening (the vestibule) when penetration is attempted. Sexual intercourse can be painful, as can inserting tampons or gynecological examinations. You may have a sore vagina after sex too. The reason for the name ‘provoked vestibulodynia’ is that the pain signals are set off when pressure is felt in the vestibule. Usually pain is felt on entry, but subsides when there is no movement. As soon as movement resumes, more pain is felt. Vulvar vestibulitis is a chronic pain syndrome, meaning that the pain usually doesn’t go away of its own accord and can continue to be a problem for many years if treatment is not undertaken. Women with vulvar vestibulitis commonly have other types of chronic pain too, such as pain in the jaw or IBS. If you have either of these as well as pain in your vagina, it may be indicative of vulvar vestibulitis. Why is my vagina sore after sex? If you have vulvar vestibulitis you are likely to feel burning sensations in the area of the vaginal opening after intercourse. You may also experience the same kind of pain when urinating. It is thought that candida infections (thrush) can worsen the issue, or make it more likely to develop in the first place. It is generally accepted that the most likely cause of vulvar vestibulitis is the brain overreacting to signals from the nerves in the vaginal opening and interpreting them as pain. The result is what would usually be only mild sensations being translated as pain. In some cases the pelvic floor muscles can be excessively tight, which results in worse pain. How do I know if I have vulvar vestibulitis? Usually if you are experiencing pain in the vagina after sex, your Doctor will conduct some cotton swab tests to understand the location of the pain, and to assess the level of pain you feel when pressure is applied. They will lightly touch areas of the vagina with the swab and ask you questions about the sensations you feel. From here it is quite easy to diagnose vulvar vestibulitis. Your Doctor may want to test for candida infection to see if this is making the problem worse. What can I do about vulvar vestibulitis? There are lots of options for treating vulvar vestibulitis. Here are some of the most common: Stress management techniques Psychological therapies (counseling, mindfulness based cognitive therapy) Pelvic floor physical therapy (in the case of tight pelvic floor muscles) Pelvic floor stretches and yoga Anti-inflammatory or anesthetic creams Avoiding irritants (changing soaps and moisturizers to chemical free, gentle varieties) Treatment for yeast infections (e.g. boric acid capsules, thrush creams) Vaginal dilators (to help you become accustomed to penetration on your terms) In worse case scenarios your Doctor may recommend surgery to the vaginal opening. This is only recommended when all other treatments have failed. It involves removing the part of the vaginal opening including the nerve endings that are sending pain signals to the brain. However, sometimes the nerves can regrow and the problem can come back, so it is not always successful and should be treated as a last resort. If your vagina is sore after sex, it is a good idea to speak to your Doctor about testing for vulvar vestibulitis. Since the problem isn’t likely to go away on its own, you can try out some different treatments to find out what works best for you. With patience and perseverance you are likely to regain a normal sex life eventually. VuVa Helpful Links: 7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen How to use Vaginal Dilators How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life! Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators
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Why Does Sex Hurt After a Baby and What Can You Do?
There are many things pregnant women anticipate as being problematic after childbirth. Sleepless nights, hormonal fluctuations and major changes to physique are the usual. However, there is one potential issue that is commonly overlooked: painful sex (dyspareunia). Does sex hurt after a baby? Unfortunately it often does… in fact it’s pretty common. Of course painful sex after childbirth isn’t guaranteed, but statistics from a study of 1000 women showed that it happens to 85% of women the first time they have sex, and 45% are still battling with it 3 months later. 23% may still have dyspareunia 18 months later. Let’s take a look at the reasons sex can hurt after childbirth and what you can do to overcome this problem… Why does sex hurt after a baby? Below are the most common causes of painful sex after a baby: Trauma to the perineum or pelvic floor It’s common knowledge that a large number of women end up with tearing when they give birth naturally. Some women are given episiotomies, although there is mounting evidence that these are unhelpful. Tears to the perineum tend to heal naturally, but some women find that this is one of the main reasons sex hurts after childbirth. Depending on how bad the tear is you may experience dyspareunia later. For example, if you suffer with tears that reach the anus area, it could mean that you’ll have painful sex even a year later. Your pelvic floor muscles can also be traumatized by childbirth. This is true even if you have a Caesarian section, since this muscle group is intrinsically connected. A weakened or injured pelvic floor is a common cause of painful sex after childbirth. Fluctuating hormones and exhaustion Hormones go crazy after a baby, as many partners will attest to! Postpartum hormonal changes can play havoc with women’s bodies and emotions in equal measures. Not fun! On a physical level, moms who are breastfeeding may find that estrogen levels in the vagina decline, which results in thinner tissues, as well as less lubrication and libido. None of those factors make for the greatest sex; on the contrary, they can actually make the experience painful. Breastfeeding a baby is great for its development, so this may just be something you’ll need to ride out. Besides, stopping breastfeeding doesn’t necessarily make any difference as you’re still producing milk. All being well, if this is the reason sex hurts after a baby, you should return to normal within 6 months. Let’s not forget that physical exhaustion can have similar effects on your libido. Who would feel like sex when they’re suffering from constantly interrupted sleep and full time focus on a tiny human? No libido equals no lubrication, and no lubrication can lead to dyspareunia. What to do when sex hurts after childbirth Most importantly, don’t just ignore the problem. You may be suffering unnecessarily, and the same could apply to your partner. First things first, you’ll need to check in with your OB/GYN to make sure there are no serious medical problems behind your dyspareunia. If there is an infection present you may need to seek treatment for this before things can return to normal. If you’re struggling with vaginal dryness, try a personal lubricant or moisturizer and see if that makes any difference. Otherwise you may find relief with an estrogen cream from your Doctor. It’s also worth having an honest and open chat with your partner about how you feel, as well as what it working and not working for you. Maybe a little extra support, romance or TLC will make all the difference. Painful sex after a baby could mean you need to check in with a pelvic floor physical therapist. Your pelvic floor muscles may be weakened, or you may have sensitive perineal scarring. A good PFPT will be able to identify where the issue originates. This is the case whether you gave birth naturally or had a C-section. What can you expect from your first visit? Your therapist will use a range of techniques to help you deal with your dyspareunia, as well as giving you exercises to do at home. Vaginal dilators could be a part of this protocol. Finally, don’t worry too much – anxiety tends to make things worse. Sex may hurt after a baby but it’s unlikely to be a permanent problem and with a little assistance and/or persistence, you should see improvements over time. VuVa Helpful Links: 7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen How to use Vaginal Dilators How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life! Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators
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Why Don’t ALL Doctors Tell Women About Pelvic Floor Therapy?
Pelvic floor issues are becoming increasingly common in modern times. According to a national survey, nearly a quarter of American women have a pelvic floor disorder these days, so you would think that Doctors would be quick to mention pelvic floor therapy… however, it doesn’t seem to be the case. As a result many women suffer in silence or feel that they’ve hit a brick wall when it comes to finding out how to treat their issues. The pelvic floor consists of a network of muscles, ligaments, nerves and connective tissues. In women, this crucial network supports the bladder, womb, vagina and rectum and ensures proper function of all. When things go wrong, a woman can suffer from issues such as incontinence and vaginal prolapse. These are worst-case scenarios that can be triggered by childbirth and other traumas in this area. However, the pelvic floor can become dysfunctional through stress, over-exercising, or not exercising at all, resulting in pelvic floor muscle tightness or weakened muscles. Below we will look into the reasons why Doctors don’t tell women about pelvic floor therapy as often as they should: Why Doctors don’t tell women about pelvic floor therapy There are a few reasons for this. Some healthcare professionals aren’t quite up to speed with the statistics that are available on the prevalence of this problem. This is exacerbated by the fact that women don’t always report some of the symptoms because they’re shy or embarrassed, so recorded statistics may not be as high as they should be. Some Doctors are under the impression that women don’t often get pelvic floor disorders, and because those can be pretty minor at times, they may not be given as much attention as they deserve. The issue isn’t always vocalized even when Doctors are aware of it, perhaps because they are inclined to avoid putting ideas in women’s heads and causing worry about something that may not be at the root of their problems at all. There is one bigger reason that Doctors don’t always tell women about pelvic floor therapy though: despite the importance of this muscle group, many Doctors (and even gynecology experts) don’t fully understand how it works. Even obstetrics and gynecology professors have been known to admit that the physiology is considered as complex as the human brain, heart or gut. The main difference is that the latter body parts function involuntarily. Many of these experts consider this part of the body to be mysterious and are aware that there is a lot more anatomical knowledge yet to be uncovered. The reasons for avoidance get increasingly complex For one thing, as the pelvic floor system is buried beneath the pelvis, it is not possible to access the area. Add to this the fact that it is intertwined with connective tissues and nerves, and GPs may have a bit of a puzzle on their hands. With this and the above problems in mind, it’s not hard to work out why Doctors might prefer to avoid the topic of pelvic floor physical therapy. What’s more, historically more attention was given to issues within the male anatomy, and female anatomy was viewed as a kind of variation of this. This may not be how things are these days, but in some areas of study there is clearly still a bit of a delay in catching up. This seems to be the case when it comes to the pelvic floor. Finally, due to the lack of public discussion on women’s pelvic floor issues, funding hasn’t been prioritized for research into this area. It would also take more effort to get Congress to grant such a thing when there are many more pressing medical issues (perception-wise, at least) to resolve. Having said all of this, the tides may be turning, albeit gradually. There are now plenty of specialists in pelvic floor therapy waiting to help. Therefore, if you suspect you may have some pelvic floor muscle problems, you can ask your Doctor to refer you to one, and you’ll be much more likely to get a definitive answer as to what your problem is. We have written several articles on the pelvic floor and pelvic floor physical therapy, so you’ll simply need to search ‘pelvic floor’ via our search bar and you’ll find a wealth of informative articles. VuVa Helpful Links: 7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen How to use Vaginal Dilators How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life! Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators
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Why Does Sex Hurt Me? 4 Possible Dyspareunia Causes
No woman wants to have to ask this question, but sadly it’s a very common one. Why does sex hurt? It should be a pleasurable and connective experience, but if anything is going to get in the way of that, it’s pain (or fear). The question of why sex hurts may have a range of possible answers. Dyspareunia is the name for painful sex, and you may experience dyspareunia because of physical or psychological issues. In this article we will do our best to help you understand why sex hurts you so that you are well equipped to do something about it. So let’s get to straight to the point… Why does sex hurt? The causes of painful sex are not always immediately easy to pinpoint, but you should be able to get a proper diagnosis provided you see a qualified healthcare professional. If the reasons for painful sex are not obvious or you haven’t managed to find a solution, you really should. Below are four of the most common reasons sex hurts: Inflammation Inflammation is a common cause of dyspareunia. If sex hurts you, there may be an underlying inflammatory condition of infection, so the painful sex could be a symptom of that. A good example would be a yeast infection (thrush), which can cause irritation and tenderness in the affected tissues. You may also want to be checked over for sexually transmitted diseases, as a number of those could cause irritation and inflammation. Pudendal neuralgia Although it is not as common as some other causes of dyspareunia, pelvic nerve damage can result in pain during sex. Nerve pains tend to feel different to irritated tissues; it may be worth reading up on pudendal neuralgia and if any of the symptoms match up, contacting your Doctor is a good idea. Vaginal atrophy Women who have been through the menopause may find that sex hurts. Whether the menopause came early or as a result of chemotherapy or similar cancer treatments, the result can be the same. When a woman goes through the menopause her estrogen levels gradually decline. This can result in thinner skin that tears easily, or lubrication diminishing. There are actually a whole host of vaginal atrophy symptoms that might make sex painful. Likewise, invasive surgical procedures like hysterectomies might damage pelvic muscles, so sex can be painful after that. Hormonal decline might lead to loss of libido too, and trying to force it when you don’t feel like it may result in pain. Vaginismus For various reasons, women can have a fear of penetration of any kind, and often sex in particular. If sex hurts you, it is worth considering whether you have any negative associations with it, or fears around it. If you have vaginismus your vaginal muscles are likely to contract and spasm, or make the birth canal completely clamp shut, which in itself can cause pain. Attempting intercourse when in this state may cause even more pain. Generally vaginismus needs to be treated psychologically, physically or both at the same time, so do consult your healthcare practitioner to get a vaginismus diagnosis. What to do if sex hurts If sex hurts, try not to just ignore the problem. These things don’t often go away without some kind of intervention, even if that intervention is something you do in the privacy of your home. For example, lots of women are able to overcome sexual issues and pain conditions using vaginal dilators, but it is still sensible to see a Doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions - just to be on the safe side. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have about our products, and don’t forget that we have a blog full of useful information on all kinds of women’s sexual health issues. It may help to keep in mind that dyspareunia need not be the bane of your life… women overcome it all the time, and you will too. VuVa Helpful Links: 7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen How to use Vaginal Dilators How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life! Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators
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Sex hurt me, and this is how VuVa Dilators changed that
An uplifting testimonial written by one of our wonderful customers. Sex is possible, VuVa can help. Have you ever noticed in movies or in your favorite TV show that at the start of any sex scene, the woman is ready to go in 3 seconds or less? There’s very little foreplay. She’s hungry for it and her body is ready. As a society, I think both men and women have come to expect it to work this way. And maybe it does for some women. I’m certainly not one of them. I used to avoid watching anything with a hot and steamy sex scene. Not because I didn’t like it, but because that’s not what sex looked like or felt like for me. I was jealous and embarrassed. I was afraid of watching those scenes with a partner because it might shine a giant spotlight on how truly broken I believed myself to be. If you roll the camera on my journey with sex over the years, you’d see a lot of awkward conversations where I explain to my soon to be new partner that there’s something wrong with me and I have a hard time with sex. You’d see an exhausting amount of mediocre foreplay (and some very good foreplay), and a cringe-worthy 20 minutes where I wince and silently shed tears through the pain that feels like someone is forcefully knocking down a door with a sledgehammer to get to the fire inside my vagina. After twenty years of a sexually somewhat-active lifestyle, a patient and loving husband who has a hard time watching me in pain, and a desire to have a baby, I finally asked my doctor why sex hurts for me. She did a few extra things during the normal exam and concluded that there was nothing wrong with me. Great. So how do we explain this burning pain I feel? How do we explain the fact that my husband couldn’t penetrate me on the night of our wedding because the pain was too intense for me? This devastating conclusion left me on a wild internet search (incognito of course), desperate to find if there’s just one other person on this planet who might have the same problem as me. My search led me to VuvaTech, and specifically the magnetic vaginal dilators. I felt like I had entered a fantasy world, a place where the sun always shines, the flowers are always in bloom. It felt like I was greeted by fairies who sat me down, handed me a glass of my favorite wine, caressed my shoulders, put a warm hand on the side of my face, looked me in the eyes, and gently said in the most calming voice, “you are not alone, there are others here just like you.” I began to devour every inch of the website, reading product descriptions, every single review, and the owner and creator’s own personal journey. As I typed out my credit card number, I thought to myself, “this probably won’t work, but it gives me hope, and right now, I’m willing to ride on hope alone.” I remember the day the dilators arrived, I wanted to see exactly how big they were. From the pictures online, I was comforted thinking that the set would resemble plastic dildos, but I also hoped they would be much smaller. As I unpacked the box, I noticed that each dilator was slightly longer and wider in circumference from the last, starting with a moderately small size. And each one had a comfortable disc like base which I would later find to be very useful in using a rotating back and forth motion to insert the dilators. I had ordered sizes 2-4, but after viewing them, I decided I wanted the full set. So I ordered sizes 1 and 5, and patiently awaited their arrival. I’ll be honest, I was terrified to use them. I didn’t mind waiting for the next shipment to arrive. Not only had I struggled with sex my entire adult life, I also failed miserably the few times I tried to use a tampon. And by this point, I had not attempted to have sex in a very long time, it just became easier to not try. I counted my blessings in my life and repeatedly told myself and my husband that we'd try to figure it out another day. Each time I thought about how I wanted to get back to it, I cringed at the memory of pain and discomfort from the last time we tried. Ordering the dilators was a good step in the right direction, but I knew this was going to be a challenge. The first time I used the dilators, I did well. I used size 1 with ease. While it was easy, I was glad I had it, because it helped prepare me (and give me the confidence) for size 2. With little effort, size 2 was a breeze. Then I got cocky. And size 3 was nowhere near as easy as I thought it would be. I listened to my body and felt that it was telling me it was done, so I stopped. I took a long hard look at size 5 and I thought to myself, “no way this will ever get inside me.” Then I realized it was likely the same size as my husband, and I knew I needed to find a way. You know how in movies they always insinuate that the bigger the man is, the more desirable he is? Well that’s never been true for me. I thought it was a little unfair twist of fate what I ended up with. Call it the ticking internal clock, but I was determined to find a way to make this work. It was a mental struggle just as much as it was physical. I spent time talking with my therapist about how to relax enough to get to the next size. I found that playing music, closing (and locking) the door helped. As much as I wouldn’t mind if my husband walked in, it helped to call it “me time” and to spend the time really listening to my body and getting to know how it worked. I began to think of the dilators for my vagina like a foam roller for the muscles in my back. A foam roller helps to work out knots, to smooth, lengthen and relax the muscles. The dilators do the same thing, and the ones with neodymium magnets inside help to draw blood to the nerves and surrounding muscles, making it easier for your internal vaginal muscles to relax. The muscles are tighter the deeper you go, so it takes some time (and different size dilators) to reach those. I found that by warming some lube and warming the dilators, my body was more willing to accept them. I focused on my breathing, taking time to slowly breath in, telling myself that this is a safe space and it’s okay to accept the dilators. As I exhaled, I’d pushed the dilator in a bit past my comfort zone, while using a gentle rotating left to right motion. My mind calmed, and my muscles loosened, accepting the dilators at each size. I want to be honest, while some reviewers said they had success within a short time, it wasn’t quick or easy for me. It was both a physical and a mental endeavor. I couldn’t use the dilators every day. In fact, sometimes I went days, weeks, or even months without use. Yet, every time I was ready to spend some time with them again, it was like catching up with an old friend I hadn't talked to in a while — my body remembered. It might have taken a little time and patience to get back in the groove, but each time was easier than the last. And here I am today, happy to report that I made it to size 5. And with continued use of the dilators, I have achieved completely pain-free and frequent sex with my husband. I’ve never talked about my struggle with sex, much less written about it, but these dilators completely changed my life. It is my hope that other women who have hid in the shadows of painful sex will find their way to my story, will feel that same warmth and optimism in realizing they are not alone, and will take the leap to find their own journey towards the mental and physical freedom that awaits them with pain free sex. End. Do you have painful intercourse? Dilator therapy helps improve pelvic health and female sexuality. They are used to help a wide variety of female health concerns. Speak to your doctor today about how dilator therapy can help you. Do you need to order vaginal dilators so you can start your pelvic floor therapy process? Made in the USA. Visit www.vuvatech.com VuVa Dilator Company Helpful Links: How do Neodymium Vaginal Dilators work? 7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen How to use Vaginal Dilators How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life! Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators
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We create safe, effective products that truly work — designed to help you relax, restore balance, and feel good in your body again. Our VuVa® Pelvic Floor Support Sets gently calm nerves, ease tension, and support natural pelvic healing from the inside out.
