#vulvar pain

[hannahcrazyhawk]

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” 🥀

— Maya Angelou

#quoteoftheday #quotes #quote #maya angelou #story #disabilties #chronically ill #cancer #pain #spoonie #suffering #sick and tired #stories #trigeminal neuralgia #hidradenitis suppurativa #lichen sclerosus #vulvar cancer #crohn's problems #potsawareness #dysautonomia

[johannestevans]

hi, unless i’m imaging things i think you’ve mentioned having written an article about different treatments for vaginal atrophy. do you have a link?

Hey there, Anon!

I have a big, exhaustive guide to vaginal and vulvar stimulation, and I do discuss the impact of vaginal atrophy and a few options toward treating it, but it doesn't go into specific detail.

Vaginal atrophy is caused by decreased estrogen production, and effectively what happens is that the soft, wet tissue on the inside of your vagina - the parts that are formed of mucous membranes - become thinner and dryer. This can lead to pain during sex, difficulty getting sufficiently loose or lubricated for penetration, and it can make the skin there tear a lot more easily, because when it's thinner it's less flexible and has less support from the surrounding tissues, not to mention the increased friction from lack of lubrication.

It's important to remember that while we're at our wettest during sexual arousal, the inside of the vagina - much like the head of the penis inside the foreskin - should always be a little bit wet. That wetness is really important to the vagina performing its regular activities, keeping itself clean and healthy, and not receiving too much friction just from things like walking around.

Even your rectum has important mucous inside it to keep things running a bit more smoothly and to ensure it's never too dry, and this is why too many enemas in a short period can be bad for your anal and rectal health, and your anus is a lot more closed naturally than your vagina, you know?

While more lube during sex is often the first thing people bring up in response to vaginal dryness, that's actually only one facet of potential issues - for people who are on T, for people going through menopause, for people who for whatever reason have an E deficiency or insufficient E in this area, it can cause other problems too - your vaginal canal might get a bit shorter, muscle weakness in the area (especially of the pelvic floor) can make you need to pee more often and more urgently, you might have some spotting, abdominal pain, uncomfortable or burning sensations when urinating.

In combination with the fact that vaginal atrophy can make you more prone to injury, your bacterial flora can be thrown out of whack by this process too, and these are really really important to maintaining a healthy vagina, producing appropriate amounts of discharge, but also to fighting off infection - vaginal atrophy is also associated with recurrent UTIs and other infections.

So, what can we do?

Firstly, pelvic floor exercises are unbelievably helpful, and everyone should be doing them regularly, regardless of gender or genital make-up.

Here's an NHS guide """for women""" but it mostly doesn't use any gendered language for your actual body parts:

These exercises will help strengthen your pelvic floor, and strengthening these muscles will not only help with stuff like potential urinary incontinence or give you a tighter grip that you can better control during penetration (more control in this area can also help you if you're prone to reflexive tightness under stress, e.g. with vaginismus), but when those muscles are stronger and have more density to them, they provide more support to the surrounding area, which can help blood flow and give more structure to the tissues we're trying to support.

Secondly, as well as good lubricants, there also exist vaginal moisturizers - depending on the extent of your atrophy and how much it's a problem (it might be worse, for example, at some points of the month than others), these might help - you apply them every few days and they help your vagina maintain its lubrication.

If pelvic floor exercises and lube and moisturizer isn't helping, your next step is different forms of estrogen - your medical provider will need to tell you what's available in your area and to you particularly, but there's honestly all sorts.

You can get topical estrogen gels and creams that you smear inside the vagina, you can get suppositories that you insert and are then absorbed, you can get rings that you insert and then stay in place for a few months, slowly releasing E over time.

If you're using testosterone, it's more likely that your medical provider would suggest these latter than taking E orally - the great thing about these topical applications is that the E stays very localised to your pelvic region where you need it, much like when you get an IUS and the progesterone stays relatively localised. Taking E orally, you're introducing estrogen to your whole system, and depending on your current hormone cocktail, it might be harder to figure out dosage and effect, especially over time.

If your medical provider hears you're experiencing vaginal atrophy and, if you say that lube and moisturizer aren't sufficient, they immediately suggest moving to vaginal dilators or pain killers, or if they talk about easing your "discomfort" during sex (especially with a presumed male partner) without talking about pleasure or satisfaction, or especially if you've brought up vaginal atrophy for reasons other than sex and their priority immediately jumps to the imaginary partner they want you to be satisfying, I would recommend getting a new medical provider as soon as possible, and probably telling that one to shut the fuck up.

Many doctors, as we know, are scumbags, but some particularly cunty ones' automatic focus for someone with a vagina is that you're providing sex to your (cishet male) partner - they automatically focus less on your pleasure or satisfaction, let alone your health, and more on the idea of reducing pain you're experiencing enough that you'll let that partner fuck you as much as they desire to.

This is not a medical provider that has your best interests at heart, and if they don't afford you humanity in this area, I would have doubts as to others.

If you're having difficulty with a medical provider, I would always, always advise:

Bringing a chaperone with you. You're entitled to a chaperone, you can always bring one, a lot of the time they'll want to say a chaperone can stay out of the room "for your comfort/privacy" but for your comfort and safety, you can also bring them in with you. A chaperone might be a friend or family member or partner, and they don't even need to say anything a lot of the time - just having a witness there can make a medical provider think twice about bullying a patient. I've served as a medical chaperone for quite a few friends, especially because I'm a thin white man, and even as a faggot, doctors humanise me slightly more than they do friends of mine who are perceived as women, who are POC, who are fat, etc.

Ask your doctor the reasoning behind denying a course of treatment, and ask them to document that they are refusing treatment at this time. Once they write it down, it becomes something that's documented and that they can't deny in court, which tends to make them a bit more flexible.

Don't be afraid to go into the doctor having done a bit of your own research. Doctors will tell you not to google things as many doctors have fragile egos and become nervous at empowered patients - with particularly egotistic doctors, you can always phrase your research in the form of questions to make them feel like you're appropriately aggrandising them. "Are there suppositories for this, or creams? Could my UTIs be related to my vaginal dryness? My mother mentioned vaginal atrophy during her menopause, but I didn't really understand what it was. Could you explain? Could that be me?"

Cisgender women are generally better doctors than cisgender men (statistically, despite being underpaid and underrepresented), but obviously cisgender people are often... very cisgender, and cisgender women can be even more painfully cisgender than cisgender men. Most providers won't bat an eyelid at you requesting a female doctor over a male one for a gynecological concern, but you can't go around asking for the most clocky doctor they've got in the back.

What you can do if you're having trouble at your GP is look for your local GUM (Genito-Urinary Medicine) clinic, and see if they'd see you and talk to you about vaginal atrophy - I know several trans people who work as nurses and practitioners in the GUM field, and in general, GUM practitioners will be way more chill about this field.

Unlike your GP, there's no chance of them getting flustered, nervous, or religiously conservative about sex or genitalia, and GUM practitioners are often more chill about queer, trans, and intersex patients because they already see us a lot more, whether because queer people are more on-the-ball about STI testing, or just because many of us enter sex work, and they're more likely to see sex workers. The benefit of this, though, is that you're almost certainly not going to be their first or only patient with x or y element of your body or identity, which can mean they humanise you a bit better and are generally less shit.

I hope that helps, Anon!

#musings #anonymous

[witch-of-the-creek]

This is your sign to get the hpv vaccine

If you are between the ages of 9 and 45, and aren’t allergic, then the hpv vaccine is for you.

The hpv vaccine is the only vaccine so far that can prevent cancer. This should be enough of a reason to get it, but numbers and medical information on the topic are provided below, thanks to the Minnesota Department of Health and the World Health Organization.

“More than 90% of sexually active men, and 80% of sexually active women will be infected with hpv in their lifetime”

“About 50% of hpv infections involve certain high-risk types of HPV, which can cause cancer. Most of the time, the body clears these infections and they do not lead to cancer.”

“These cancers, often caused by these viruses, are HPV-associated cancers and include cervical, vaginal, vulvar, penile, anal, rectal and oropharyngeal (mouth and pharynx) cancers.”

-Minnesota Department of Health

“HPV infection causes about 5% of all cancers worldwide, with an estimated 625 600 women and 69 400 men getting an HPV-related cancer each year.”

“Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection. Almost all sexually active people will be infected at some point in their lives, usually without symptoms.”

“The vaccine does not contain any live virus or DNA from the virus so it cannot cause cancer or other HPV-related illnesses. The HPV vaccine is not used to treat HPV infections or diseases caused by HPV, but instead to prevent the development of cancers.”

“Some HPV infections cause small rough lumps (genital warts) that can appear on the vagina, penis or anus and rarely the throat. They may be painful, itchy or bleed or cause swollen glands.”

-World Health Organization

[maia-radfemdu]

vulvar pain in where? 🙄

#Ughhhh sooo fucking annoying #ffs

[ripadsstuff]

hairless

- vagina has a clean wax look

- pubic hair never grows on your vagina

- any hair on your vagina and anus are completely gone regardless of circumstances

clear

- immune to developing bumps and pimples

- any bumps and pimples on your vagina immediately vanish regardless of circumstances

- immune to infected hair follicles due to bacteria

- immune to folliculitis

- no irritations, bumps, itchiness, or pimples from shaving

even skin tone

- reverse / irradiate any vaginal hyperpigmentation and or discoloration

- even skin tone throughout while bikini area and vagina

- hormones, friction, infections, and or age don’t cause vaginal discoloration or hyperpigmentation

- any effects of lack of proper ventilation caused by tight underwear or clothing resulting in vaginal discoloration immediately reverse regardless of circumstances

- any vaginal discoloration or hyperpigmentation due to a sudden rise in estrogen levels completely disappear within seconds regardless of circumstances

- free from dark patches on the vagina

no foul odor

- free from foul vaginal odor from sweat or anything

- vagina has your desired pleasant scent

free of infections

- free of and immune to bacterial vaginosis

- free of and immune to trichomoniasis

- free of and immune to yeast infections

- free of and immune to vaginal cancer

- free of and immune to cervical cancer

- free of any vaginal infections

- immune to any vaginal infections

- free of and immune to vulvar cysts

- free of and immune to vaginal cysts

- free of and immune to any fordyce spots

- free of and immune to any Varicosities

- my body naturally avoids vaginal infections and diseases regardless of circumstances

- free of and immune to ingrown hairs

- free of and immune to any vaginal skin tags

- free of genital herpes, genital warts, and any sexually transmitted diseases or infections

- free and immune to uti’s

- immune to razor bumps

- immune to any uti’s due to painful sex or any other circumstances

balanced ph level

- have a balanced ph level

- have a normal vaginal pH level between 3.8 and 4.5

- periods and unprotected sex don’t throw off your PH levels no matter the circumstances

- PH level is always balanced to a healthy degree

hygiene products

- manifest feminine hygiene products

- manifest high quality body and vaginal exfoliants

- manifest clean high quality razors to shave

- manifest cute high quality tweezers

- manifest high quality moisturizing body lotion and body oil

- manifest dr.bronners soaps

- manifest hygiene essentials

[termagax]

does anybody know if we have leg pain abdominal swelling difficulty yurinating constipation diarreah vulvar pain tommorow

[topfindr]

#Acne #Skincare

[boreal-sea]

For the bottom growth anon -- if they choose to go the DIY bidet route but don't want to use a water bottle, the peri bottles they make for postpartum would be a good choice. I have vulvar pain for reasons that aren't related to T growth, but when toilet paper hurts too much the peri bottle is a lifesaver.

For Anon!!

[of-mutts-and-men]

re: difficulties with penetration

you could have vulvodynia?? (especially if you have any form of dysautonomia/autonomic dysfunction or fibromyalgia/fibro-like disorders as well)

that’s what I have and it makes penetration (medical or sexual) super difficult/painful. as I understand it, it’s basically the nervous system misinterpreting pressure signals as pain, localized around the vulva/vaginal entrance. it also makes sitting (in just any old chair, or bike, or anything with direct contact with the vulvar region) painful, though less so than penetration. vulvodynia also isn’t helped by the “just relax” treatment or anything like that; since it’s a nerve issue, it’s treated with nerve blockers or muscle relaxants

dunno if it’s what you’re dealing with, but it’s a bit more obscure and it took me a long time to get that figured out with my docs, so in case, I could save you any time/effort, I figure I may as well mention it

Hmm never heard of that but I’ll keep it in mind!

#hornyramble #anon chit chat

[intersex-questions]

(talk of genitals & periods in depth. kind of a tmi tbh.)

so i am intersex, have a female reproductive system with clitoramegaly/very small penis. this means i do experience my periods, and regularly due to medications. however, when on my period, my clit get Incredibly swollen and painful, to the point where wearing pants w seams is too painful even with a pad on. does anybody else experience this????? i can’t find any resources about it and wanted to know if anybody else that is intersex experiences this as well.

Don't worry about anything being TMI—that's always welcome and allowed here.

Burning, abnormal swelling, or general pain of the clitoris is usually referred to as clitorodynia. This isn't uncommon for people with clitorises and you're not alone in experiencing pain there. People experiencing clitorodynia often struggle with certain clothing or any pressure on their clitoris as well.

The clitoris can change size cyclically and circumstantially. An example of cyclical change is changing size over the process of a month due to various reasons such as ovulation or menstruation. A circumstantial example is during arousal.

However, it sounds like your clitoris is inflamed rather than typical size change, likely due to pain. A few causes for clitorodynia include:

Irritation of the skin (such as by products like soap, lotion, lube, or even some period products like pads)

Local trauma (as in injury to the area)

STIs (many STIs can cause clitoral pain)

Various skin conditions (such as lichen sclerosus)

Infection (such as yeast infections, BVs, or UTIs)

Keratin pearls (when regular secretions of the clitoris harden and prevent free movement of the clitoris)

Vulvodynia

Many of the things listed above can be worsened or present stronger symptoms during periods.

I'm not sure why this would be most strongly associated with your period, but clitorodynia often is often a manifestation of vulvodynia. Both clitorodynia and vulvodynia are chronic conditions of pain, with vulvodynia specifically around the vulvar regions. Unfortunately, finding a root cause for vulvodynia is often difficult or completely unable to be explained. Vulvodynia can be cyclical. Cyclic vulvitis is cyclical pain of the vulva/vulvar regions during the menstrual cycle.

I can guarantee you there are many people, both intersex and perisex, who experience this. You are not alone. Sexual health problems can be comorbid or seen more prevalent in certain intersex variations or caused/be worsened due to poor medical treatment of intersex variations. I'm sorry that you have to go through this pain. I cannot imagine how rough that is.

I recommend speaking to a doctor or other medical healthcare provider if you are able to and it is safe for you. Even if the root cause isn't able to be diagnosed, it's possible you may be able to cross off certain reasons (like an STI, for example) and look into treatments. Clitorodynia and vulvodynia are often unfortunately lifelong conditions or disabilities that can mitigated with certain treatments. If you don't already, you might find OTC solutions to be helpful, such as certain pain relievers (like ibuprofen) or an ice pack/cold compress/boo boo buddy. Personally, for things like this, I enjoy having several cute boo boo buddies because just their appearance alone makes me happy and feel a little bit better.

I hope I could at least help a little!

#asks #Anonymous #clitorodynia #vulvodynia #menstruation #genitalia

[mental-mona]

I cannot recommend pelvic floor PT enough. If you have IBS, a bladder problem, endo, some chronic vulvar/vaginal thing, tailbone issues, literally anything unpleasant happening down there, a pelvic floor therapist can help. Been a sanity saver, pain reliever, and general body fix for me 3 times now. Sex should be fun, not painful. You shouldn't have to live with endless bladder, bowel, vaginal, etc. issues when these things can be treated with exercises & manual stretches. Get thee to a pelvic PT!

#dyspareunia #pelvic floor dysfunction #pelvic floor disorder #pelvic floor #endometriosis #endometriosis awareness #endometriosis awareness month #living with endometriosis

[josieandthepussycatsofficial]

Jill Krapf's patients are often too embarrassed to tell her about discomfort in their clitoris. 

"I ask all of my patients about clitoral pain, and it is often the first time they have ever been asked about this," says Krapf, MD, the associate director of the Center for Vulvovaginal Disorders, a private clinic in Washington DC, and New York City. 

Krapf is an OB\GYN who specializes in female sexual pain that involves the pelvis, vagina, and vulva. 

Many of the conditions Krapf treats don't have outward symptoms that appear abnormal, but internally, there are damaged or irritated nerves that can result in hypersensitivity, unwanted arousal, or pain.

"Most recent research indicates that even a herniated disk or tear in the spine can lead to clitoral or vulvar symptoms, just like sciatica pain that shoots down the leg is related to issues in the spine," Krapf says.

Krapf was excited to read of a new discovery: The clitoris has more than 10,000 nerve fibers — 2,000 more than previously reported in 1976 — a medical breakthrough for a part of the body that has often been neglected by the scientific field. Krapf and other doctors in are hopeful that the attention to the clitoris will spark more interest and comprehensive education among people in their field. They also hope it will empower patients to seek medical help if they are having issues with their clitoris.

"Female sexual health has historically been underfunded, especially compared to male sexual health, like erectile dysfunction," Krapf says. "Optimizing vulvar and vaginal health is not only necessary for sexual well-being."

Blair Peters, MD, a plastic surgeon who specializes in gender-affirming care, led the study, which was presented at the Sexual Medicine Society of North America conference in October. Peters says he hopes that the new information decreases stigma that the clitoris is not worthy of the same medical attention that other organs of the body receive. 

When the clitoris doesn't properly function, there can be harm to a person's physical and mental health. Paying attention to discomfort in the clitoris, and seeking medical attention, can help catch and prevent some urinary and vaginal infections.  

"The fact that it took until 2022 for someone to do this work speaks to how little attention the clitoris has received," says Peters, an assistant professor of surgery at the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine in Portland, OR. 

What's Inside? 

Peters and his colleagues completed the study by taking clitoral nerve tissue from seven adult transgender men who had received gender-affirming genital surgery. The tissues were dyed and magnified 1,000 times under a microscope so the researchers could count nerve fibers. 

Peters says the finding is important because many surgeries take place in the groin region — like hip replacements, episiotomies during childbirth, and pelvic mesh procedures — and the revived attention to the clitoris may help health care providers know where nerves are so that injuries from medical mistakes are prevented. 

[careerhospital010]

One Vaccine against many diseases.

in the majority of cases, Cervical Cancer is associated with the contraction of the virus - human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a sexually transmitted infection. 

Ensuring widespread immunization can largely reduce the rate of Cervical Cancer. 

Gardasil 9 is the approved vaccine that is largely effective. It is effective in protecting against many highly infectious strains of the HPV virus. The vaccine was first introduced in 2006 and from then the rate of infection, genital warts, and cervical precancers have decreased. It also gives long-lasting protection against this virus. 

It is ideal that this vaccine is given before the virus has been contracted or before an individual is sexually active. This vaccine can also prevent vaginal and vulvar cancer, genital warts, anal cancers, and mouth, throat, head, and neck cancers in women and men.

After the virus is contracted, the vaccine does not have much effect. It is therefore very important you get younger people vaccinated to prevent the spread of the HPV virus. 

Do remember vaccines cannot treat  an existing HPV infectOne Vaccine against many diseases.ion

At what age should the vaccine be takenOne Vaccine against many diseases.

The HPV vaccine can be given from the age of 9 to 45 years. Medical fraternities believe that children aged 11 to 12 years should get 2 doses of this vaccine with an interval period of 6 months. After the age of 15, children will require 3 doses of the vaccine with an interval of 6 months. 

Speak to your pediatrician about the benefits and whether it is advisable to administer this vaccine to your child.

Regardless of age, speak to your doctor about getting vaccinated to protect yourself from HPV infection which leads to different types of cancer in certain cases.

The HPV vaccine is administered to all genders.  

Who should not get vaccinated?

Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and those with allergies like yeast and latex. 

Discuss with your doctor the components of the vaccine and if you have shown symptoms of allergy to those components in the past.

Can I take the vaccine later in life?

Yes, you can take the vaccine even after marriage or if you are already sexually active. If you have contacted one strain of the virus, the vaccine can prevent you from contracting other strains in the future. 

Where can I take this Vaccine?

Gardasil 9 is available at Career Cancer Research Centre Bhopal,MP, ph-_______________

Or contact your nearest hospital. Do consult a good doctor before taking this vaccine or administering it to your children. 

Any side effects of the Vaccine

Like most vaccines, Gardasil 9 can have side effects too. But not in all cases. 

The most common side effects are mild like pain, redness, or swelling in the arm where the shot was taken. Dizziness or fainting is more common among teenagers. Nausea and headache were also reported in certain cases. 

chest ct scan price in bhopal

#chest ct scan price in bhopal

[careerhospital4]

One Vaccine against many diseases.

in the majority of cases, Cervical Cancer is associated with the contraction of the virus - human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a sexually transmitted infection. 

Ensuring widespread immunization can largely reduce the rate of Cervical Cancer. 

Gardasil 9 is the approved vaccine that is largely effective. It is effective in protecting against many highly infectious strains of the HPV virus. The vaccine was first introduced in 2006 and from then the rate of infection, genital warts, and cervical precancers have decreased. It also gives long-lasting protection against this virus. 

It is ideal that this vaccine is given before the virus has been contracted or before an individual is sexually active. This vaccine can also prevent vaginal and vulvar cancer, genital warts, anal cancers, and mouth, throat, head, and neck cancers in women and men.

After the virus is contracted, the vaccine does not have much effect. It is therefore very important you get younger people vaccinated to prevent the spread of the HPV virus. 

Do remember vaccines cannot treat  an existing HPV infectOne Vaccine against many diseases.ion

At what age should the vaccine be takenOne Vaccine against many diseases.

The HPV vaccine can be given from the age of 9 to 45 years. Medical fraternities believe that children aged 11 to 12 years should get 2 doses of this vaccine with an interval period of 6 months. After the age of 15, children will require 3 doses of the vaccine with an interval of 6 months. 

Speak to your pediatrician about the benefits and whether it is advisable to administer this vaccine to your child.

Regardless of age, speak to your doctor about getting vaccinated to protect yourself from HPV infection which leads to different types of cancer in certain cases.

The HPV vaccine is administered to all genders.  

Who should not get vaccinated?

Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and those with allergies like yeast and latex. 

Discuss with your doctor the components of the vaccine and if you have shown symptoms of allergy to those components in the past.

Can I take the vaccine later in life?

Yes, you can take the vaccine even after marriage or if you are already sexually active. If you have contacted one strain of the virus, the vaccine can prevent you from contracting other strains in the future. 

Where can I take this Vaccine?

Gardasil 9 is available at Career Cancer Research Centre Bhopal,MP, ph-_______________

Or contact your nearest hospital. Do consult a good doctor before taking this vaccine or administering it to your children. 

Any side effects of the Vaccine

Like most vaccines, Gardasil 9 can have side effects too. But not in all cases. 

The most common side effects are mild like pain, redness, or swelling in the arm where the shot was taken. Dizziness or fainting is more common among teenagers. Nausea and headache were also reported in certain cases. 

cervical cancer treatment in bhopal

https://careerhospital.in/other-facilities

#cervical cancer treatment in bhopal

[docgold13]

Hey doc, is there any advice you could give someone about sexual intrusive thoughts? The kinds that deal with strangers, family, etc? I know someone who loves me a lot, and we’re in a relationship, but they get a lot of these thoughts/images that make them feel like a monster. For example, they want to imagine us in a sexual scenario, but instead, for some reason, as they explain, i get replaced midway by a family member or a stranger, and they’re repulsed and scared. This makes it hard for them to want to engage in anything romantic. I want to make sure they get help, but what can i do?

That sounds like a difficult situation.  

Thoughts, intrusive or otherwise, are not really things that can be controlled… and often any effort to control them results in their becoming even more ornery.  Our thoughts are kind of like mercury; the tighter one tries to hold them, the quicker they slip through the fingers.  

Intrusive thoughts during sex can be especially troublesome.  For fellas it can lead to loss of erection and for gals it can lead to vulvar pain.  Dealing with this trouble can be difficult, but nonetheless entirely possible.  The trick is to try to make it less of a big deal… to stop exerting all this energy to control what cannot be controlled.    

Talking about it, being open regarding the matter it is the first step.  

The next step is practice.  The idea is to make the sexual encounter less of a pressure-filled situation.  Start off by being intimate wherein the end goal is not penetration and orgasm.  Just have fun with each other and try to make it less of an all or nothing deal.  Try to factor the matter of 'performance' out of the equation.

If the intrusive thought occurs, if this visage of a family member or stranger appears in mind, try not to give it too much weight.  It happens; it’s no big deal; and the less attention it is given the sooner it will dissipate.  

The third step is to communicate more during sex.  All too often sex is this quiet, silent deal where folks get all in their head about how it’s going, how they’re performing, so on and so on…  

A little play-by-play can often makes things much more fun and much more comfortable.  Commenting on what you’re thinking, what feels good, what doesn’t feel good, what you like, et cetera.  It may feel a bit awkward at first, but that awkwardness passes. 

The thing is that the more a couple is engaged with one another during sex, the less likely that one’s personal neuroses can invade the space and makes things not as much fun.  

The goal of all of this is to take the pressure off.  Once you get around the pressure to be great at sex, to have it go perfectly, then the neurotic issues, like intrusive thoughts, tend to become less pronounced.

Outside of this, cognitive behavioral psychotherapy has been found as quite effective in helping people contend with intrusive thoughts.  Medications, like Zoloft, has also been found effective in this regard; and combination therapy with medication often yields the best results.     

good luck and have fun

[bcschandra]

Painful Intercourse (Dyspareunia): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Painful Intercourse (Dyspareunia): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Painful intercourse  in medical terms known as dyspareunia. It is caused by persistent or recurrent genital pain experienced before, during, or after sexual intercourse. It can affect the physical and mental health of both men and women. 

Dyspareunia is a complex disorder that can be further classified as 

Superficial dyspareunia is pain localized to the vulva or vaginal entrance.

Deep dyspareunia is pain perceived inside the vagina or lower pelvis that is often associated with deep penetration.

Primary dyspareunia occurs at initial intercourse.

Secondary dyspareunia occurs after some time of pain-free intercourse.

Causes of Dyspareunia

It is categorized into three main factors:

Entry Pain:

Vaginal Dryness: Insufficient lubrication often occurs due to hormonal changes, medications, or menopause. This can cause vaginal dryness leading to discomfort or pain at the vaginal entrance during penetration.

Vaginal Infections: Conditions like yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can lead to inflammation and pain upon entry.

Vulvar Skin Disorders: Skin disorders such as lichen sclerosus or lichen planus can cause irritation, burning, or pain at the vaginal opening.

Pelvic Floor Disorders: Pelvic floor disorders, such as pelvic floor muscle tension or pelvic organ, can result in pelvic pain and discomfort during sexual activity.

Deep Pain:

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): Infections of the reproductive organs often caused by sexually transmitted bacteria, can result in deep pelvic pain during intercourse.

Endometriosis: The growth of uterine tissue outside the uterus can cause deep pelvic pain and discomfort during deep penetration.

Fibroids: Non Cancerous growths in the uterus may lead to pressure or pain during intercourse, particularly when compressing surrounding tissues.

Ovarian Cysts: Fluid-filled sacs on the ovaries can cause deep pelvic pain or discomfort, especially with deep penetration.

Psychological Factors:

Anxiety and Stress: Emotional health conditions like anxiety or stress can interfere with sexual arousal and response, resulting in discomfort or pain during intercourse.

Depression: Mood disorders may reduce libido and can lead to physical discomfort or pain during sexual activity.

Relationship Issues: Conflict, lack of communication, or unresolved issues within a relationship can affect sexual satisfaction and lead to dyspareunia.

History of Sexual Trauma: Previous experiences of sexual abuse or trauma can lead to fear, anxiety, or discomfort during intimate encounters.

Symptoms of Dyspareunia

Dyspareunia can show up through various symptoms affecting the physical and emotional health of a person. The common symptoms associated with dyspareunia:

Genital pain: Discomfort or pain felt during penetration or thrusting.

Burning Sensation: Some people may experience a burning or stinging sensation during or after intercourse.

Pelvic discomfort: Pain or pressure in the pelvis or lower abdomen.

Emotional Distress: Dyspareunia can lead to emotional distress, anxiety, and avoidance of sexual activity impacting relationships.

Muscle Spasms: Involuntary contractions of the pelvic floor muscles (vaginismus) in response to penetration can cause pain, tightness, or a feeling of being "closed off." Spasms can make intercourse difficult or impossible.

Genital Redness or Swelling: Inflammation or swelling of the genital tissues, including the vulva, vagina, or perineum, which may lead to pain during or after intercourse.

Post-Coital Pain: Pain or discomfort experienced after intercourse, which may last for hours or days after the sexual intercourse. This pain can vary in intensity and may lead to tenderness or soreness in the genital area.

Dyspareunia Treatment

Medical Evaluation: Consult a doctor to identify the cause of dyspareunia.

Pelvic Examination: A pelvic exam may be necessary to check for physical abnormalities or infections.

Treatment of Underlying Conditions: Treating infections, endometriosis, hormonal imbalances, or other medical conditions can reduce dyspareunia symptoms.

Lifestyle Changes: Practicing relaxation techniques, using lubricants, engaging in longer foreplay and having open communication with your partner can improve sexual comfort.

Therapy: Psychotherapy or couples counseling may help identify psychological factors leading to painful intercourse.

Medication: Topical estrogen creams, pain relievers or muscle relaxants may be prescribed to treat symptoms.

Surgical Intervention: In severe cases, surgical procedures to treat underlying conditions may be considered.

Conclusion

An individual experiencing painful intercourse (dyspareunia) can impact their physical and emotional health. It can be caused by various factors including infections, pelvic disorders and psychological issues. While it may be uncomfortable to discuss dyspareunia, seeking medical help is essential. Proper evaluation and treatment can improve sexual health and the overall quality of life.