Pain-free Sex: Tips to Enjoy Pleasurable Intimacy
The sexual act is an experience that should be pleasurable and satisfying for everyone involved. However, for some, sex can become a painful experience, affecting both physically and emotionally. Do you avoid sexual encounters because they are painful? This condition is more common than you think and can have various underlying causes.
As women approach and pass menopause, the drop in estrogen levels causes dryness and thinning of the vaginal tissues, making penetration and sexual intercourse uncomfortable and very painful for many women. The discomfort can range from a feeling of dryness, to a sensation of vaginal “tightness or tightness” and intense pain during intimate intercourse.
A high percentage of postmenopausal women (between 17% and 45%) say that sexual intercourse is painful, a condition known as "dyspareunia," a medical term that refers to persistent or recurring pain during sexual intercourse. whether in men or women.
Dyspareunia can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from physical problems such as lack of lubrication, infections or muscle problems, to psychological factors such as stress, anxiety or traumatic sexual experiences.
Some of these problems can be resolved easily, while others may take longer to heal. If you experience pain during sex, now is the time to discover the cause and explore options for pleasurable, pain-free intimacy.
What Could Be Causing Pain During Sex?
Lack of lubrication: Insufficient lubrication can cause friction during sex to cause pain and irritation in the vagina. This condition is very common during menopause and during the postpartum period, but they are not the only cause of dry vaginal tissues.
Some medications, such as antidepressants, antihistamines (anti-allergy), and some hormonal contraceptives, can reduce vaginal lubrication as a side effect.
Infections: Vaginal infections such as candidiasis or bacterial vaginosis can cause discomfort during sex. Even using certain feminine hygiene products, such as scented soaps, douches, certain underwear fabrics, or scented laundry detergents can irritate the vagina and reduce lubrication.
Muscle problems: Conditions such as vaginismus, in which the vaginal muscles contract involuntarily, can cause pain during penetration. The causes of vaginismus can be both physical and psychological. Possible physical causes include vaginal infections, hormonal problems, scars or trauma to the genital area, among others. However, in many cases, vaginismus has an important psychological component, as a result of bad experiences or abuse.
Structural problems: Almost 50% of women with endometriosis experience pain during or after sexual intercourse. Other pelvic disorders, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine fibroids, cystitis, and ovarian cysts, can cause sharp, stabbing pain deep in the pelvis during sexual intercourse.
Psychological factors: Emotional factors such as fear of pain, anxiety, stress or traumatic sexual experiences can trigger a physical reaction of contracture and dryness of the area and cause pain to be felt during sex.
Seven Tips to Enjoy Pain-Free Sex
1. Use lubricants : At Zenzsual we never tire of insisting that “ a good lubricant is much more than moisture.” Lubrication and pleasure go hand in hand but it is important that you know that it is not just an issue of vaginal dryness, if you find the ideal moisturizing gel You can reduce friction, increase sensitivity, give variety to your sex life. An intimate moisturizing gel with hyaluronic acid (like those from Zenzsual) in addition to lubricating, has properties, thanks to its ingredients, that allow the skin to be moisturized, regenerate it and even address the natural pH, preventing infections in zone V. It is extremely useful in all those moments in life where we lubricate less (menopause, postpartum, use of hormonal contraceptives).
2. Exploration and self-knowledge: Know your body and its “triggers” well. Masturbation can help you explore your erogenous zones, your sensations, and discover what is pleasurable and comfortable for you. Practice masturbating with a toy and lubricant (ask about our Zenzsual Trio Kit) that you can adapt to your speed and preferences to identify what is causing you pain. The Triorgasmic from Zenzsual, Triple stimulation vibrator will help you achieve those much-desired orgasms through stimulation of 3 different points.
3. Spend more time on “foreplay”: Talk to your partner about your concerns and feelings during sex. Open communication can help you solve problems and find solutions together. If you spend about 20 minutes on foreplay, it can help your body feel free, relaxed, and lubricate better. Explore and make the moment a space of pleasure.
4. Cleanse yourself carefully: Avoid using soaps, douches, bubble baths, and bath oils in the vaginal area. These can dry out the skin and even cause infections. Rinsing with our cleansing foam can help keep you healthy, clean and odor-free. By combining daily cleaning and hydration of the area with our Inseparables Kit with our intimate moisturizing gel, you guarantee balanced pH and a reinforced immune system in your zone V.
5. Relax and reduce stress: Chronic, short-term stress can wreak havoc on many areas of your body, including the vagina. Stress causes the muscles in your pelvis to tighten and can make sexual intercourse uncomfortable. If you are currently under a lot of stress, try deep breathing techniques and incorporate our CBD Zen into your daily routine.
CBD has been shown to have relaxing and anti-anxiety properties, which can help calm the mind and body. CBD oil and deep breathing, working together, can be the combination that puts you in the right mental space to enjoy sex without any pain. By taking a dropper of our CBD extract tincture before having an encounter with your partner, you can take advantage of its potential benefits to reduce stress, improve sensitivity, and focus on the enjoyment of the sexual act.
6. Practice and practice : “What is not used atrophies,” says a popular saying and it is very true when it comes to the health of your sexual organs. Being excited improves blood flow. Therefore, the more sexual relations you have, the more active and less dry the area is. Pleasuring yourself can also help if other sexual acts hurt.
7. Sex therapy: In some cases, sex therapy can be beneficial, especially if painful sex is related to psychological or emotional factors. Talking to a professional can help you get to the root of your problems so you can develop a healthy sex life that makes you happy.
Painful sex is not something that should be ignored or accepted as an inevitable part of the sexual experience. It's important to address any discomfort or pain during sex openly and seek help if necessary. With proper communication, personal exploration, and professional support, it is possible to enjoy sex in a pleasurable and pain-free way.
Sources consulted
Pain with Penetration, Sexual Side Effects of Menopause | The North American Menopause Society, NAMS
Menopause: When Sex Hurts (webmd.com)
10 Things That Can Make Sex Painful for Women (healthgrades.com)
Vulvar skin care guidelines | University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics (uihc.org)
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