I know this topic is a little scary and unnerving, but let’s face it; painful sex has sadly become more common for the female population. Or, has it always been a problem and physicians are just now beginning to recognize this as a serious problem, urging more women to open up?

According to an article from The Good Men Project, researchers have found that 16 to 20 percent of women will experience sexual pain in their life. Although you may feel the desire to have sexual intercourse, the thought of piercing pain has you bottling up the urge. If the thought of penetration has you running to the bathroom, it’s time to do something about it and we’re here to help.

Simply put, painful sex is confusing and just not fair. Genital pain can be contributed to a number of conditions, and the onset of symptoms can appear at any time. Common activities such as exercising or sitting can become extremely painful. Some of these conditions that result from genital pain, include gastrointestinal or urological problems, vestibulodynia (vulvar pain) and clitorodynia (clitoral pain). What’s even scarier about sexual pain is that sometimes it can come from nowhere; developing “without a readily identifiable trigger.”

Authors of the new book Healing Painful Sex, Deborah Coady, MD and Nancy Fish, have taken a close look at this problem and assure suffering women that they shouldn’t feel ashamed, and that the pain is not “all in your head.”

While the medical field would like to classify this type of pain, during what is supposed to be a pleasurable experience, is the result of emotional and psychological issues. Coady and Fish don’t agree, concluding that “emotional and psychological problems are consequences of the pain.”

The book’s authors offer up helpful tips to keep intimacy alive without actually having intercourse. These steps should be taken while medical intervention is in place to heal the physical pain.

The first step to rejuvenate your relationship is to be open, up front and honest. You’ll find yourself and your partner shutting down if you can’t find a way to talk about the pain. For the man in your life, it can be difficult for him to see you in such debilitating pain. Being able to confront your fears and facing them head on and together can help you both to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Next, is learning to be creative. There are others ways to be romantically involved, to experience intimacy, and fulfill desires without actually having penetrative sex. “You just need to re-frame the way you think about sex and realize that sex includes many acts besides intercourse. Sex includes cuddling, mutual masturbation, tantric sex with a focus on breathing together, spooning and holding hands.” These actions will aid in restoring and fulfilling sexual needs.

As the problem of painful sex becomes more prevalent, doctors and researchers will continue their efforts at finding ways to eliminate the pain. Don’t forget that Women’s Intimate Solutions has various products to help lessen pain, discomfort and dryness. All of our products are 100% natural, with no harmful side effects to worry about.

(Source: The Good Men Project’s Website Feature on new book Healing Painful Sex: Healing Painful Sex: A Woman’s Guide to Confronting, Diagnosing, and Treating Sexual Pain By Deborah Coady, MD and Nancy Fish, MSW, MPH)

Post by Helen Rollins Lord of Women’s Intimate Solutions