Causes of Painful Intercourse

Pain just before, during or after intercourse can seriously affect the  sexual life and reduce the desire for sex. Painful sexual intercourse, medically called dyspareunia can be caused by a large number of factors which can be either of physical or psychological nature.

Pain just before sex or entry pain is most often caused by insufficient lubrication which in turn can be a result of inadequate foreplay. However, insufficient lubrication can be also a side effect of certain medications including birth control pills and drop of estrogen levels during menopause or breast-feeding. Other common causes of the so-called entry pain include infection, inflammation or irritation of the genital area, for example urinary tract infection and allergic reaction to contraception products.

Deep pain which is typically more pronounced with certain positions can be a sign of an underlying condition including uterine fibroids, cystitis, uterine prolapse, ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis and some other illness and infections.

Both entry pain and deep pain can be also caused by psychological factors, most often stress, anxiety, depression and emotional problems such as relationship problems and fear from intimacy.