If you are suffering from pain after sex, it might help to know that you are not alone. Many women suffer from vagina pain after intercourse for a variety of reasons. For some, having sex for the first time can lead to pain after sex that lingers for a while. If you didn’t have enough lubrication, or if you went too fast before it was time to have intercourse, you might have vaginal pain, too. There could be other reasons as well, such as a bacterial infection or even a hormone imbalance. Figuring out why you have vaginal pain after sex can help you treat it.

Causes of Vaginal Pain After Sex

There are many things that can cause vagina pain after intercourse. Here are the most common ones:

1. You Aren’t Aroused Enough

When you don’t have enough foreplay, the tissues in the vagina don’t have the opportunity to become lubricated enough. This means that you might suffer from small tears in the vaginal walls, which can lead to pain. Make sure foreplay is at least 20 minutes before you move to penetration.

2. The Sex Was Too Rough

Really rough sex can lead to vaginal pain, even if you were lubricated enough. Sometimes getting too rough can lead to vaginal pain that lasts for a very long time after intercourse is over.

3. You Are Going Through Menopause

Women who are in the midst of menopause deal with hormone fluctuations, including lowering estrogen hormones. This means that your vagina can become dry, which can lead to little lubrication – even if you are really turned on.

4. You Have an Infection

Infections of the vaginal area, such as those caused by yeast or bacteria, can make everything in that area hurt, including vaginal pain after sex. If you suspect you have an infection, talk to your doctor.

Self-Care for Vaginal Pain After Sex

If you are suffering from vaginal pain after intercourse, there are a few things you can do to make the situation more tolerable. These home remedies can make it easier to deal with the pain until your vaginal area heals.

• Sit out activities that put pressure on your vaginal area, such as horse riding, biking and motorcycle riding.
• Avoid wearing tight clothing, especially things like panty hose. Wear panties that are made of pure cotton only.
• Avoid anything that might irritate that area, such as soaps, bubble baths and even things like shampoo and conditioner.
• Take lukewarm shower and wash the vaginal area well several times a day.
• Avoid foods that might make urination uncomfortable, such as beans or berries.
• Use toilet paper that is unscented and soft. Clean with water if possible.
• If you do have sex again, use lubricants to help ease the way.

If you experience any change in color or odor of your vaginal discharge, experience vaginal bleeding that can’t be explained by your period, feel redness, itching or irritation in the vaginal area, or notice a bulging area in your vagina, talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

Medical Treatments for Vaginal Pain After Sex

For those who suffer from severe vaginal pain after sex, there are some remedies that might help. Speak to your doctor about these medical treatments:

1. Medications

Antihistamines can help if you are itching. Anticonvulsants or antidepressants have been shown to help with chronic pain. However, your doctor will want to run tests to figure out where the pain is coming from before giving you these medications.

2. Biofeedback

Tense muscles can often lead to sharp pains in your body, even in the vagina. Biofeedback teaches you to control certain muscles and relax them on demand. A vaginal sensor inserted just inside the vaginal opening can help you figure out which muscles are contracting hard, and how to correct the problem. Here’s a demonstration of how biofeedback works:

3. Anesthetics

Ointments are often prescribed for situations where temporary relief is required. Things like lidocaine can numb the area and help you get through the pain.

4. Surgery

If the pain is very specific and it is caused by an underlying medical condition, surgery might be an option to remove the area that hurts so much, bringing relief for a long period of time, or even permanently.