Pelvic
Pain during sex
Pain felt during or after sex, either at the entrance or deeper inside, which is common, often very treatable, and can have physical, hormonal or emotional causes worth exploring with a clinician.
Education and reference only. This explains the common causes of pain during sex and the warning signs that need urgent help, in plain language — it is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a clinician. If you feel very unwell or are worried, seek medical help.
Quick answer
What is pain during sex?
Pain during sex is common and can affect people of any age and any sex, yet it is often not talked about. The pain may be felt at the entrance of the vagina, deeper inside the pelvis, or in the genital area, and it may be sharp, burning, aching or cramping.
- Get urgent help: Seek urgent help for severe pelvic pain with fever, feeling very unwell, or abnormal discharge, which can suggest a serious pelvic infection. See a doctor promptly for bleeding after sex, bleeding between periods, or any bleeding after the menopause.
- Self-care: Several simple measures can ease painful sex while the cause is being sorted out.
About pain during sex
Pain during sex is common and can affect people of any age and any sex, yet it is often not talked about. The pain may be felt at the entrance of the vagina, deeper inside the pelvis, or in the genital area, and it may be sharp, burning, aching or cramping. Where the pain is felt offers clues to the cause. Pain at the entrance, with dryness and discomfort, is often due to vaginal-dryness, which is especially common around and after the menopause when hormone levels fall. Deeper pain may come from conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic-inflammatory-disease, or ovarian problems. An infection such as vaginal-thrush can make sex sore, and in men, inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) can cause pain. Emotional factors, anxiety and past experiences also matter and can interact with physical causes. Because so many causes are treatable, painful sex is well worth raising rather than enduring.
When to get help
Call 999 or go to A&E if pain during sex comes with any of these warning signs:
- Seek urgent help for severe pelvic pain with fever, feeling very unwell, or abnormal discharge, which can suggest a serious pelvic infection.
- See a doctor promptly for bleeding after sex, bleeding between periods, or any bleeding after the menopause.
- Seek urgent help for sudden, severe one-sided pelvic pain during or after sex, which can suggest an ovarian problem.
- See a doctor for painful sex with a possible sexually transmitted infection, or a new or changing genital sore or lump.
- See a doctor if pain during sex is persistent, worsening, or causing distress.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if pain during sex is persistent, getting worse, or causing you distress, as the cause is usually identifiable and treatable. It is particularly important to be seen if the pain comes with abnormal bleeding, unusual discharge, fever, or feeling unwell, or if there is bleeding after sex or after the menopause, as these need assessment. Painful sex around the menopause due to dryness, recurrent infections, or deep pelvic pain all have effective approaches once the cause is known. Raising it can feel awkward, but clinicians deal with this often, and getting help can restore comfort and intimacy.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
What can cause it
Common causes of pain during sex
Pain during sex has many possible causes. Each links to a full, plain-language guide to that condition — what it is, how it's treated and when to seek help.
What helps
Self-care and what you can do
Several simple measures can ease painful sex while the cause is being sorted out. Taking time to feel relaxed and aroused, and not rushing, helps the body respond, and a good water-based lubricant reduces friction, which is particularly useful when dryness is the problem. Communicating openly with your partner about what is and is not comfortable, and trying different positions, can reduce pain. Treating any obvious cause such as thrush, and looking after general pelvic and bladder health, also helps. If anxiety, stress or past experiences are contributing, gentle, pressure-free intimacy and, where helpful, talking support can make a real difference. These steps support but do not replace seeing a clinician when pain is persistent.
Answers
Pain during sex: frequently asked questions
Is pain during sex normal?
Occasional discomfort can happen, but persistent or recurrent pain during sex is not something you should simply put up with. It is common and usually has a treatable cause, so it is well worth discussing with a clinician.
Why does sex become painful around the menopause?
Falling hormone levels thin and dry the vaginal tissues, reducing natural lubrication and causing friction and soreness. This is a common and treatable cause of painful sex, and using lubricants and seeking advice can help a great deal.
Does the location of the pain matter?
Yes. Pain at the entrance often points to dryness or a local infection, while deeper pain inside the pelvis can suggest conditions such as endometriosis or a pelvic infection. Telling your clinician where you feel the pain helps find the cause.
When should painful sex be checked urgently?
Seek urgent help for severe pelvic pain with fever or feeling very unwell, or sudden severe one-sided pain. See a doctor promptly for bleeding after sex, between periods, or after the menopause, or a new genital sore or lump.
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NICE CKS: Dyspareunia.
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
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