Sexual Disorders: When Women Experience More Pain than Pleasure

For many women, sex is a painful experience. While occasional sexual pain can occur for various reasons, chronic sexual pain might be due to a sexual disorder. Here are four sexual disorders that you should know about.

Vaginismusis is a condition where there is involuntary tightness of the vagina during attempted intercourse. The tightness is caused by involuntary contractions of the pelvic floor muscles surrounding the vagina. Some women experience burning and pain during intercourse with this disorder, making it difficult or almost impossible for penetration to occur. The vaginal tightness can be so restrictive, that some women find it hard to use tampons or have pelvic exams.

Vaginismus treatment does not require drugs or surgery. Effective treatment approaches combine pelvic floor control exercises, insertion or dilation training, pain elimination techniques, transition steps, and therapy designed to help deal with the emotional ramifications of this disorder.

Vulvar Vestibulitis is pain or irritation that occurs in the area of the female vulva that surrounds the opening of the vagina. This can occur in women of all ages. Women who suffer from this have pain with any kind of pressure or touch at the vestibule, including intercourse, tampon use, tight clothes, bicycle-riding and sometimes just sitting or standing for long periods can be painful. Often times, there is redness on the skin where the pain is located.

Vulvar Vestibulitis can be treated with topical or oral medications, injections, physical therapy, biofeedback techniques, and surgery. It is often necessary to use a combination of treatments.

Interstitial cystitis is a painful bladder syndrome that causes you to feel bladder pain pressure, as well as a need to urinate frequently. Sometimes women also experience pain between their vagina and anus or pain during actual intercourse. The cause of interstitial cystitis isn’t known, and there is no specific test to tell if you have it. Doctors often run tests to rule out other possible causes of symptoms.

There is no cure for this disorder but there are many medications available for symptom relief.

Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue that normally line the inside of the uterus, grow outside your uterus, causing extreme pelvic and sexual pain. Endometriosis typically involves your ovaries, bowel or the tissue lining your pelvis, and rarely, spreads beyond your pelvic region. Aside from painful sex, symptoms includes painful periods, bowel movement and urination; it can also cause excessive bleeding and infertility. 

Treatment for endometriosis is available through medications or surgery; doctors often turn to surgery as a last resort. Individualized treatment will depend on the severity of symptoms and your desire to have children.

As you can see, there are many sexual disorders that women suffer from. If you are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms or disorders, it’s important to see a physician as soon as possible. Women who suffer from sexual disorders often experience mental and emotional stress, strains in their romantic relationships, and even depression. Instead of succumbing to the latter, be informed about your condition and know that when managed properly, it is still possible for you to fully enjoy sex with your mate.

Written By: Nyia Moore

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