This condition makes vaginal penetration painful and can be associated with constipation, pressure in the bladder, and difficulty with tampon insertion and gynecological examination. Vaginismus, or hypertonic pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, is a condition in which the pelvic floor muscles are very tight and spasm involuntarily.
Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when the pelvic floor muscles become weak or damaged, and one of the pelvic organs like the bladder, uterus, rectum, or small bowel descends from its normal position and into the vagina.When a woman enters menopause, her estrogen and testosterone levels decrease which can lead to the thinning of her vulvar and vaginal tissues, vaginal dryness, less vaginal elasticity, and burning, tearing, bleeding, or pain during or after sex. Vulvo-vaginal atrophy (VVA)/genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) occurs in 50% (or more) of postmenopausal women and can cause dyspareunia.Certain medications like antidepressants, high blood pressure drugs, antihistamines, sedatives, and some birth control pills can also negatively impact vaginal lubrication. A woman’s estrogen levels affect vaginal lubrication, so she may notice pain during sexual activity when her estrogen drops after childbirth, while breastfeeding, or during menopause. Often, this can be the result of not enough foreplay, but other things may cause vaginal dryness as well. Vaginal dryness (or not enough lubrication) is a common cause of dyspareunia.
Here are some of the conditions and situations that may result in painful penetration: Dyspareunia can be associated with physical or psychological factors, and sometimes a combination of both.