If you have experienced painful sexual intercourse, you are not alone. Even though it is not often discussed, almost every woman has experienced pain during sex at one time or another. However, while painful intercourse may be a passing occurrence for some women, for other women, pain during sex is something that happens all of the time and that affects all of their intimate relationships. No matter if you have had pain during sex for the first time or if sexual pain is a major problem in your life, it is important to address the reason why it is happening, for the good of your sex life and your overall health.

Painful sexual intercourse, which is also known as dyspareunia, can happen for any number of reasons. The first question in narrowing down the exact cause for the painful sex is whether the pain is a new occurrence or something that has plagued you for a long time. If you have had pain free sex in the past and are experiencing pain during intercourse for the first time, the reason may come down to a related health problem. (more…)