Skip to main content
mayologo1
  • Patient Online Services
  • Pay Bill Online
  • Request an Appointment
    • Services
    • Providers
    • Locations

      Minnesota

      • Adams
      • Albert Lea
      • Austin
      • Belle Plaine
      • Blooming Prairie
      • Butterfield
      • Caledonia
      • Cannon Falls
      • Fairmont
      • Faribault
      • Janesville
      • Kenyon
      • Lake City
      • Le Sueur
      • Mankato
      • Montgomery
      • New Prague
      • New Richland
      • Northfield
      • Owatonna
      • Plainview
      • Red Wing
      • Sherburn
      • St. James
      • St. Peter
      • Waseca
      • Waterville
      • Wells
      • Zumbrota

      Wisconsin

      • Arcadia
      • Barron
      • Bloomer
      • Chetek
      • Chippewa Falls
      • Eau Claire
      • Ellsworth
      • Glenwood City
      • Holmen
      • La Crosse
      • Menomonie
      • Mondovi
      • Onalaska
      • Osseo
      • Prairie du Chien
      • Rice Lake
      • Sparta
      • Tomah

      Iowa

      • Decorah
      • Lake Mills

      View map
    • Classes/Events
    • Blog
    • Wellness
    • Referrals
    • COVID-19
    Posted By
    Becky DeLuca CNP

    Becky DeLuca, C.N.P.

    Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB-GYN), Prenatal Care

    Recent Posts

    • Holding towel against neck
      Speaking of Health
      When should a female start seeing a gynecologist?
      September 23, 2022
    • Wearing mustard sweater, wind blowing hair
      Speaking of Health
      6 helpful tips for managing urinary incontinence
      February 23, 2022
    • Women Standing Together
      Speaking of Health
      Vulvar health: Pay attention, speak up
      December 27, 2016
    Featured Topics
    • Behavioral Health
    • Cancer
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)
    • COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Vaccine
    • Exercise and Fitness
    • Heart Health
    • Men's Health
    • Neurosurgery
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Orthopedic Health
    • Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery
    • Women's Health
    Join our email newsletter
    Speaking of Health
    Monday, May 10, 2021

    Women's sexual health: When being intimate hurts

    Topics in this Post
    • Women's Health
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    Couple nose to nose

    If you experience pain during intercourse, you are not alone. An estimated 40% of women experience painful intercourse at some point in their lives.

    Dyspareunia is the medical term for pain that occurs immediately before, during or after intercourse but not during other activities. It is important to discuss the pain you are experiencing with your health care provider, even if you don't experience pain every time you have intercourse. There is no minimum amount of time that you should experience discomfort before discussing it.

    Some women never discuss their concerns, either because they are embarrassed or feel the issue was dismissed or not fully investigated before. A trusted health care provider can help diagnose and treat the underlying issue and prevent symptoms from worsening or progressing into a more complex problem like decreased libido, anxiety or fear of sexual activity.

    There are many possible causes of painful intercourse, including:

    • Infections
      Sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea as well as vaginal infections like yeast and bacterial vaginitis can cause painful intercourse. Your health care provider can provide an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan to provide relief from your symptoms.
    • Hormonal changes
      Times of extreme hormonal fluctuation, like pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause, can contribute to discomfort to the area outside the vagina (vulva) and along the vaginal walls. Your treatment will vary based on the cause of your hormonal changes.
    • Pelvic muscles changes
      Women's pelvic muscles are at an increased risk of contracting and relaxing at incorrect times due to pregnancy, childbirth, abdominal or pelvic surgeries, sports injuries, trauma or chronic constipation. This can lead to pain during intercourse. Early detection of the issue and beginning a treatment plan is important to prevent a snowball effect of worsening symptoms.
    • Physical changes
      Uterine fibroids and pelvic organ prolapse are examples of physical changes that can cause discomfort with certain sexual positions. Changes to your skeletal system also could cause dyspareunia, including scoliosis, lumbar spine disease and hip injuries.

    Various treatment options are available, and the treatment right for you will depend on the cause of your dyspareunia:

    • Medications
      Antibiotic or antifungal medications are used if a pelvic or vaginal infection is suspected. For hormonal causes, treatment can include starting or changing contraceptives, or applying creams or other ointments directly to the vulva and vaginal tissue. Some women find relief from medications that target the nerves and muscles of the pelvis, and this can include topical or injectable medications. Do not use over-the-counter preparations without speaking to a health care provider first.
    • Therapy
      Physical therapy is often helpful for women with dyspareunia due to pelvic muscle or other physical changes. Some therapists specialize in treating the pelvic floor, while others focus on spine or skeletal issues or injuries. Many women with pain experience anxiety related to intercourse, especially if they have a history of trauma or chronic disease. Counseling can help address these concerns, and it is an important part of a treatment plan. But counseling is rarely used alone.
    • Surgery
      For most women, surgery is not required to resolve dyspareunia, but it is appropriate in some cases. Significant anatomical physical changes or injuries can require surgery to correct the underlying issue. Occasionally, dyspareunia is caused by a combination of conditions and surgery is pursued after all noninvasive treatments have been explored.

    If you are bothered by painful intercourse, talk with your primary care or OB-GYN provider about the right treatment plan for you.

    Learn more about women's health issues:

    • 6 contributors to bacterial vaginosis
    • Choose the birth control that’s best for you
    • Let's talk low libido
    • Uterovaginal prolapse — What's that?

    Becky DeLuca is an OB-GYN nurse practitioner in New Prague, Minnesota.


    For the safety of our patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a non-patient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
    Topics in this Post
    • Women's Health
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology

    Related Posts

    Woman reading to two young girls Why you should screen early and vaccinate against cervical cancer
    Stephanie and Nick Beaudrie Rainbow baby brings joy after long journey to parenthood
    whipple_small Anything is possible: One couple’s journey to start a family

    Stay Connected

    • Contact Us
    • Notice of Nondiscrimination
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • For Patients & Visitors
    • Financial Assistance
    • Community Resources
    • Mayo Clinic Connect
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Press Room
    • Mayo Clinic
    • Home
    © 2018 - 2023 Mayo Clinic Health System