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<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6355231" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sex">Sex</keyword> may be painful for women because of menopause, vaginismus, v<strong>ulvodynia, endometriosis, dryness, or a number of other reasons. </strong></li><li><strong>For men, sex may be painful because of Peyronie's disease, a tight foreskin, or prostatitis. </strong></li><li><strong>Both men and women can also contract infections, like sexually transmitted infections or urinary tract infections, which can make sex painful.</strong></li><li><strong>This article was <a href="https://www.insider.com/insider-medical-review-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener">medically reviewed</a> by <a href="https://sextherapylongisland.com/">Rosara Torrisi</a></strong>, LCSW, CST, MSSW, MEd, PhD, Certified Sex therapist at the Long Island Institute of Sex Therapy.</li></ul><p>Feeling pain during sex is a common problem that can affect anyone. However, there are many reasons sex may be painful for you, and figuring out the cause of your pain can be an important first step to help fix the issue and improve your sex life. </p><p>Here are some of the possible reasons why sex might feel painful. </p><h2>Why sex is painful for women</h2><p>Pain during sex is a widespread problem – in a<a href="https://www.jsm.jsexmed.org/article/S1743-6095(15)30980-2/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 2012 survey</a>, nearly a third of women reported that they felt pain during their most recent vaginal sex with a man. There are many reasons sex may be painful for women, including emotional and relationship difficulties and issues with your vagina or diseases that cause pelvic pain.</p><h3><strong>An infection</strong></h3><p>There are many different kinds of infections that can cause pain in the vaginal area. Some of them are:</p><ul><li><strong>Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)</strong>: Infections like<a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/what-causes-painful-sex" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> gonorrhea and chlamydia</a> can cause internal vaginal irritation, while <a href="https://www.insider.com/answers-to-all-of-the-questions-about-herpes-2018-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">herpes</a> can cause sores on the vulva that may be painful during sex.</li><li><strong>Urinary tract infections (UTIs):</strong> <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-treat-a-uti-at-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Urinary tract infections</a> can cause inflammation of your urethra and your bladder, which can lead to pain during external stimulation and during any penetration, says<a href="https://www.gla.ac.uk/researchinstitutes/healthwellbeing/staff/kirstinmitchell/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Kirstin Mitchell, MRC/CSO</a>, a professor of public <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> at the University of Glasgow. </li><li><strong>Yeast infections:</strong> A <a href="https://www.insider.com/home-remedies-for-yeast-infections">yeast infection</a>, caused by an excess of the fungus candida, can also<a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/painful-sexual-intercourse-dyspareunia-a-to-z" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> make sex uncomfortable</a>, as your labia and vagina may be sore and swollen.</li></ul><h3><strong>Menopause</strong></h3><p>Your body goes through<a href="https://www.menopause.org/for-women/sexual-health-menopause-online/changes-at-midlife/changes-in-hormone-levels" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> intense hormonal changes</a> during <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-treat-menopause-hot-flashes-vaginal-dryness-2019-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">menopause</a>, which can lead to pain during penetrative sex.</p><p>"As estrogen levels fall after menopause, the vaginal tissues thin, which can cause symptoms of vaginal dryness or painful intercourse," says<a href="https://uvahealth.com/findadoctor/profile/joann-v-pinkerton" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> JoAnn V. Pinkerton, MD</a>, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Virginia.</p><p>For this reason, sex may become more painful as you age –<a href="https://www.menopause.org/for-women/sexual-health-menopause-online/sexual-problems-at-midlife/pain-with-penetration" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> between 17% and 45%</a> of women who have gone through menopause say they feel pain during sex.</p><h3><strong>Vaginismus</strong></h3><p><a href="https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/women-s-health-issues/sexual-dysfunction-in-women/vaginismus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vaginismus</a> is a condition in which the muscles around the opening of your vagina contract suddenly during penetration, making sex painful or even impossible.</p> <p>This contraction is outside of your control and can happen even if you feel aroused and want to have sex. There are ways to treat vaginismus, but some women may not be able to tolerate penetrative sex at all. Treatments for vaginismus might include psychotherapy, pelvic physical therapy with dilators, and medication management. </p><p>"There are many sexual activities and ways to have sex, so if penetration is painful, then try something else, in addition to seeking help," Mitchell says.</p><h3><strong>Vulvodynia</strong></h3><p><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17878-vulvodynia#:~:text=Vulvodynia%20is%20chronic%20pain%20in,infection%20or%20a%20skin%20disorder." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vulvodynia</a> is a condition characterized by chronic pain around the opening of the vagina. Although it may be unclear where vulvodynia originates, even sitting may be painful. Treatments for vulvodynia may include medications, pelvic physical therapy, and psychotherapy. </p><h3><strong>Dryness</strong></h3><p>If your vagina<a href="https://www.issm.info/sexual-health-qa/why-is-vaginal-lubrication-important-for-women/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> isn't lubricated enough</a> during sex, it can cause irritating friction on your vaginal walls, making penetration painful. There are many reasons your vagina may be dry, in addition to the hormonal changes caused by a menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause.</p><p>Over time, having sex without enough lubrication can cause your vagina to become inflamed, which "can lead to tearing and bleeding of vaginal tissues during sex," Pinkerton says.</p><p>One cause of dryness is rushing into sex. If this is the case for you, spending more time on foreplay can<a href="https://www.issm.info/sexual-health-qa/why-is-vaginal-lubrication-important-for-women/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> increase your vagina's lubrication</a> and help ready you for penetration.</p><p>Certain drugs can also lower your ability to naturally lubricate – some<a href="https://www.hollandhospital.org/healthylife/healthy-life-blogs/yes_you_can_relieve_and_talk_about_vaginal_dryness_107" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> common medications</a> that cause dryness include <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-does-birth-control-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener">birth control pills</a>, some <a href="https://www.insider.com/do-antidepressants-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antidepressants</a>, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-allergy-medicine-should-i-take" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allergy medications</a>.</p><p>Even if you are aroused, your body may not produce enough lubricant for sex to feel comfortable and positively stimulating. Using a lubricant, especially one that is hydrating and hypoallergenic, might be very helpful. </p><h3><strong>Endometriosis</strong><a href="http://www.insider.com/the-best-diet-for-endometriosis"></a><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/endometriosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354656"></a></h3> <p><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/endometriosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354656" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Endometriosis</a> is a disorder in which similar tissue to what would normally line your uterus starts growing in other parts of your body. It generally affects other organs in your pelvis like your ovaries, fallopian tubes, or your bowels.</p><p>Normally, your vagina<a href="https://www.endofound.org/painful-sex-dyspareunia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> stretches and expands during sex</a> without causing pain. But when uterine tissue grows on the back wall of your vagina or the front of your rectum, this expansion can become painful.</p><h3><strong>Fibroids</strong></h3><p><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/uterine-fibroids/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354294" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fibroids</a> are noncancerous tumors that grow inside or on the outside walls of your uterus. Depending on where they grow, fibroids can sometimes cause pain in your pelvis and make sex uncomfortable.</p><p>In particular,<a href="https://www.usafibroidcenters.com/blog/uncovering-the-truth-about-sex-fibroids/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> fibroids that grow close to your cervix</a>, the opening of your uterus at the top of your vagina, can cause tenderness and make penetrative sex painful.</p><h3><strong>IBS</strong></h3><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/do-i-have-ibs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Irritable bowel syndrome</a> (IBS) is a common disorder of your large intestine that causes stomach pain, bloating, and abnormal stools. IBS is also linked to<a href="https://www.aboutibs.org/gynecological-aspects-of-irritable-bowel-syndrome.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> greater pain sensitivity</a> in your organs, which can include your vagina.</p><p>Having a bloated and painful lower belly can also make the pressure and movement of sex more uncomfortable for IBS sufferers.</p><h2>Why sex is painful for men</h2><p>Though it is less common, men may also experience pain during sex.<a href="https://www.jsm.jsexmed.org/article/S1743-6095(15)30980-2/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> One survey</a> found that 7% of men felt pain during their last vaginal sex experience and 15% had pain when they were the penetrating partner in anal sex.</p><h3><strong>An infection</strong></h3><p>STIs can also make sex painful for men, particularly<a href="https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/sexual-health/why-does-sex-hurt/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> infections like herpes</a> that cause the skin on your penis to become inflamed and sensitive.</p><p>Although it is less common, men can also get yeast infections, which can make your penis or anus itch or become sore. You may be at greater risk for a yeast infection if<a href="https://news.umiamihealth.org/en/men-get-yeast-infections-too/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> you are uncircumcised</a> or if you have unprotected penetrative sex with a partner who has a yeast infection.</p><h3><strong>Peyronie's disease</strong></h3><p><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peyronies-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353468" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Peyronie's disease</a> is a condition that occurs when abnormal scar tissue forms inside your penis, often after an injury.</p><p>When you get an erection, your penis normally fills with blood and expands, but because scar tissue can't stretch, your penis may be forced to bend, which can be painful. </p><h3><strong>Tight foreskin</strong></h3><p>When an uncircumcised penis becomes erect, the foreskin generally pulls back over the head of the penis to allow it to expand, then returns to its original position when the erection returns to baseline.</p><p>But<a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/phimosis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> if your foreskin is too tight</a>, it can become stuck over the head of your penis while it's erect, causing the skin to split or become painful.</p><p>Tight foreskin that is able to pull down over the penis head may become stuck below the head after a penis is no longer erect. This can<a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/phimosis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> cut off blood flow</a> to the penis head, causing swelling and pain.</p><h3><strong>Prostatitis</strong></h3><p><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostatitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20355766" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prostatitis</a> occurs when your prostate, the small gland below your bladder, becomes inflamed and swollen. Prostatitis usually causes pain during urination, but it can also cause general pain in your penis.</p><p>Because your prostate produces the fluid that combines with sperm to make semen, prostatitis can also<a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostatitis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> make ejaculating and orgasm painful</a>.</p><h2>The bottom line</h2><p>"Painful sex is never your fault and not something you should just have to endure," Mitchell says. If you feel pain during sex, talk to your doctor to help determine what the problem is and what your options are for treatment.</p><h2 id="related-articles-from-our-health-reference-library:">Related articles from <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Health Reference</a>:</h2><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/does-masturbation-help-your-immune-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Does masturbation help your immune system? An orgasm may have benefits</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-many-calories-does-sex-burn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sex burns about 3 to 4 calories per minute — here's how to burn a little more</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/benefits-of-sex" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5 major health benefits of sex</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-last-longer-during-sex" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to last longer during sex</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/why-do-womens-periods-sync" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The truth about period syncing and the real reason you may be experiencing it</a></strong></li></ul>

12 reasons why sex can be painful for men and women, according to experts

<p><div class="image-container float_right" style="width:399px"><div class="image"></div><p class="source">Jim Edwards</p></div>Yesterday, New York Governor <keyword id="196530" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Andrew-Cuomo">Andrew Cuomo</keyword> delivered his State of the State address.</p>
<p>In the <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/119668198/NY-State-of-the-State-Book">accompanying "NY Rising" book</a>, he acknowledged the reality of <keyword id="6361617" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Climate-Change">climate change</keyword> and the need to prepare New York's infrastructure for stronger and more frequent storms.</p>
<p>Superstorm Sandy devastated <keyword id="72226" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="New-York-City">New York City</keyword>'s <keyword id="34991" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="transportation">transportation</keyword> network: Tunnels for subways and cars flooded, and full service still has not been completely restored.</p>
<p>To prevent future, costly flooding (the damage done to a single subway station will <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/500-million-to-repair-south-ferry-station-2012-12">cost about $500 million to repair</a>), Cuomo presented several measures. Here's what he wants New York City's Metropolitan Transit Authority and other State agencies and authorities to do, with federal assistance:</p>
<ul>
<li>Flood-proof subways and bus depots with vertical roll-down doors, vent closures, inflatable bladders, and upsized fixed pumps (with back-up power sources);</li>
<li>Mitigate scour [swiftly flowing water] on road and rail bridges with strategically placed riprap [rubble] and other steps;</li>
<li>Replace metal culverts [drains] with concrete on roads in flood-prone areas;</li>
<li>Providing elevated or submersible pump control panels, pump feeders, and tide gates to address flood at vulnerable airports;</li>
<li>Install reverse flow tide gates to prevent flooding of docks, berths, terminal facilities, and connecting road and rail freight systems, and harden or elevate communication and electrical power infrastructure that services port facilities; and</li>
<li>Upgrade aged locks and movable dams to allow for reliable management of water levels and maintain embankments to protect surrounding communities from flooding.</li>
</ul>
<p>To prevent the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-jersey-gas-lines-stretch-for-miles-photos-2012-11">severe gasoline shortage</a> caused by Sandy, Cuomo's plan proposes requiring "gas stations in strategic locations" to have back-up power capacity, so they can distribute fuel during a power outage.</p>
<p>But some argue these plans, while practical and executable, do not go far enough.</p>
<p>Second Ave. Sagas, a blog about New York's subway system, <a href="http://secondavenuesagas.com/2013/01/10/barely-a-nod-to-transit-in-cuomos-state-of-the-state/">criticized Cuomo's "lack of attention"</a> to New York City's transit needs, pointing out the 300 page plan mentions the <keyword id="170979" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="MTA">MTA</keyword> only once.</p>
<p><a href="http://transportationnation.org/2013/01/09/ny-gov-shares-plans-for-flood-proof-subways-open-transpo-data-coastal-barriers-full-document/">Transportation Nation notes</a> Cuomo's plan does not include the expansion of New York's bus rapid transit system, called for in a draft report by the NYS 2100 Commission, created by Cuomo to improve New York's emergency preparedness.</p>
<p>The argument for more buses is based on the idea that routes are flexible and do not rely on tunnels that can flood, so service can be restored quickly after a storm.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mta-wont-build-costly-subway-barriers-2013-1"><strong>Now see why NYC can't save people from being hit by subways &gt;</strong></a></p>

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12 reasons why sex can be painful for men and women, according to experts

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Here's Andrew Cuomo's Plan To Prepare NY For The Next Giant Storm

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