Painful Sex

Painful Sex in Menopause

Sex can become painful during the menopause due to levels of oestrogen decreasing. This can leave the vaginal lining thinner, increasing the risk of small tears and abrasions.

Oestrogen is responsible for the release of natural lubrication. When oestrogen levels drops, natural lubrication reduces too. A reduction in lubrication can result in penetration being painful, and can vary from a feeling of dryness or tightness, a sharp burning feeling to extreme pelvic pain.

Medical Definitions

You may have heard various words being used to explain this pain, which we explain below:

Dyspareunia – a word used to describe pain during sex.

Vaginismus – painful penetration due to the muscles in or around the vagina going into spasm

Vaginal Atrophy – the thinning and drying of the vaginal walls (vaginal dryness)

Vaginitis – soreness and swelling in and around the vagina. It’s common and usually treatable.

Tips for managing painful sex

Communicate with your partner

It is important to communicate with your partner, informing them of how you are feeling, physically and emotionally. This can help prevent painful sex creating problems in your relationship.

Be intimate

Try to continue being intimate and close with your partner, without having sexual intercourse. Kissing and cuddling or lovingly massaging one another are great ways for maintaining intimacy without the need for sex.

Use a lubricant

Lubricants are best used just before sex, to add a bit of fun and help lubrication. If vaginal dryness is a real problem, view our Vaginal Dryness Symptom here.

Try the Ohnut

The Ohnut is an intimate wearable specifically designed to help with painful intercourse. With 4 stackable rings it allows you to customise how deep penetration goes enabling you to experience a comfortable sex life.

Use a vaginal dilator

During menopause, the vagina can get narrower and less flexible, which all contribute towards painful sex. Dilators are a great tool to help alleviate painful sex.