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Firstly, let's separate sex pain that occurs 'situationally', and sex pain that is a problem. Let's face it, we've all found a bad angle, or had an overenthusiastic (or oversized!) partner, and found ourselves hurting. This pain is typically a 'trauma' in the sense that a large, hard object hits against the vaginal walls (less painful) or the cervix (more painful). The other pain that can occur in this situation is pain during entrance, which is typically around the perineum as the skin might struggle to stretch and accommodate or be yanked (*shudder*) at a bad angle. These types of pain are typically not happening consistently - perhaps with the exception of cases where a partner is very well endowed. In these cases, we would consider adjusting position, taking time with foreplay, and being careful, rather than assuming there is an underlying issue with the vagina or vulva that needs resolved.
But, what about all those other types of pain...?
When it comes to pain, one of the most overlooked types of pain is actually more aptly called discomfort rather that outright screaming pain. This discomfort can usually be described as a feeling of pressure, and, as many women point out, the feeling can be that you are about to have a bowel movement (aka. poop) when a penis or other object enters you - which, let's face it, is not how we want to be feeling at that moment in time!
For women who feel this sensation, there is usually no issue with external foreplay, such as oral sex, and no discomfort in the vulva, but when something enters the vaginal canal, there can be an unpleasant feeling of pressure on the back wall of the vagina (towards the anus) and for some women, during sex, it can feel as if they might have a bowel movement.
This is typical of anal prolapse, a rectocele, or uterine prolapse. For cases of vaginal or urethral prolapse, the pressure can be more 'frontwards', or there can be irritation in or around the clitoris or urethral opening.
We have gone into more depth on prolapse in this blog. As for a rectocele, this is a condition where the rectum, the last part of the large intestine, bulges forward and pushes against the back wall of the vagina. This bulge can cause symptoms like a feeling of fullness or pressure in the pelvis, difficulty emptying the bowels, and sometimes, pain during sex. It often occurs due to weakened pelvic floor muscles, which can be caused by factors like childbirth, aging, or chronic constipation.
Tightness is another common issue that is distinct from pressure or other types of pain. This tightness can cause two issues; the first issue is that entering the vagina can be painful both in and around the vulva and vaginal opening/perineum, and the second can be when something is actually inserted, there can be a clamping or complete lack of elasticity.
Tightness like this can occur for different reasons, such as vaginismus or vaginal atrophy. It is important to note that, with atrophy, there will likely be other symptoms, but not always, whereas with vaginismus, tightness is usually the only symptom. Vaginismus is the body's automatic reaction to the fear of some or all types of vaginal penetration. Whenever penetration is attempted, your vaginal muscles tighten up on their own. Ouch.
For vaginal atrophy, many women find that they feel tightness (though it is different for everyone). This tightness occurs as the tissues have become thinner and dehydrated, and there is less blood flow, and the muscles of the vaginal canal have become tighter and less elastic, leading to the sensation of being overly tight.
There are a lot of different things that can cause irritation or burning symptoms:
The most common cause of a sandpaper or cheese-grater like pain is vaginal atrophy. A combination of tightness and irritation, that sandpaper sensation is due to the lack of elasticity, micro tearing, and subsequent irritation, leading to the entire area feeling inflamed, angry, and very, very painful. This sensation can be all around the vulva, clitoris, and internally, and some women do experience bleeding if the tissues are really dried out.
Stabbing pain is surprisingly common, and unfortunately, the help online is infuriatingly vague - "it could be dyspareunia, the medical term for pain during or around sex." Um, ok? But, what is causing it?!
Well, a few things could be to blame: bladder inflammation (i.e., interstitial cystitis), ovarian cysts, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or bowel problems, as well as more severe prolapse, can all lead to sharp, stabbing pains. Another cause could be pudendal neuralgia. So, let's take a look at those...
Interstitial cystitis is a chronic condition causing bladder pressure, bladder pain, and sometimes pelvic pain. You can learn more about it here.
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form on or inside the ovary. Most ovarian cysts are harmless and disappear on their own. When ovarian cysts grow large, they can put pressure on nearby structures, causing pelvic pain. If a cyst ruptures, it can also lead to sudden, severe pain. Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in the uterus. They can vary in size and number, and some may cause symptoms. Uterine fibroids can cause pelvic pain, especially during menstruation or sexual activity. Large fibroids can also put pressure on the bladder or rectum, leading to discomfort.
Pudendal neuralgia is a chronic pelvic and perineal pain syndrome originating from damage, injury, inflammation, or irritation of the pudendal nerve.
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. This extra tissue can attach to other organs, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and intestines. The combination of tissue growth, adhesions, and inflammation can cause significant pain.
All in all, there are a lot of different ways we can OUCH during sex - and it is worth remembering that, for many women, they can experience this type of pain regardless of whether or not they are having sex due to sport, activity, clothing friction, and so on.
For many women, estriol - like in Silky Peach - can significantly help reduce many of the issues that cause pain during sex, such as dryness, atrophy, and pH issues that can lead to bacterial changes.
Try it today, and see if it can help you!
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Disclaimer: The information provided above is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Statements made have not been evaluated by the FDA nor are they intended to treat or diagnose. Any health concerns should be discussed and evaluated by your primary health care provider.
Parlor Games, LLC ● kate@parlor-games.com ● 5304 River Rd N Ste B ● Keizer OR 97303
Disclaimer: The information provided above is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Statements made have not been evaluated by the FDA nor are they intended to treat or diagnose. Any health concerns should be discussed and evaluated by your primary health care provider.
28 Day Challenge Subscription Details
We ship you a 28 day supply of Silky Peach Cream for only $29 (more than 25% off our normal price) when you sign up for Subscribe & Save.
Follow the directions we include in the package and apply Silky Peach cream on your tender bits for 28 days.
Decision Day:
5 days before your subscription rebills, we’ll send you an email reminder with a link. If you decide Silky Peach is nice but not your thing… you can click that link and cancel your subscription without even talking to anyone. No hassle — no questions asked.
If you are like 72% of our Silky Peach customers, you’ll love it and can't imagine life without it. In that case, do nothing, and we’ll welcome you to the Parlor Games family and ship Silky Peach Cream to your door step every month for the same discounted price of $29 — locked in for as long as you remain a subscriber.
Important note about our easy-breezy subscriptions:
We know that some companies make it hard to cancel a subscription — that’s not us. Our mission is to save the world — one vagina at a time! If you decide you don’t need Estriol as an ongoing solution for dryness, incontinence, UTIs and keeping sex fun and comfortable again, we understand. Five days before we ship your next order, you'll receive an email with a link to cancel right there in the message.
No hunting, no searching, we got you. Respect is where it’s at.
FYI – Estriol is beneficial for skin integrity and mucous membranes. It’s great for vaginal atrophy and also amazing for use on the face and neck. Applying a small amount — about 1 pump — can help build the collagen and plump up the cells to reduce wrinkles. Who knew!!
OUR HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
We want you to feel safe and confident trying any of our products. That's why we promise 100% money-back guarantee on the purchase price of the first bottle of any of our products. Balancing hormones DOES take some time, so please try it for 28 days. If after 28 days you are unhappy, or the product just hasn't worked for you, simply contact us and we'll process a refund of your full purchase price upon receipt. Sorry, shipping fees are not refundable.