Painful Intercourse

Women may not talk about it a lot, but pain during intercourse is very common—nearly 3 out of 4 women will experience pain during intercourse at one time or another. For some, the pain is only temporary; for others, it is a chronic problem. In either case, relief is a phone call away. Please don’t hesitate to seek help. The ob-gyns at Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida offer many treatment options for women suffering from painful intercourse. To schedule a consultation with one of our compassionate, patient-focused providers, you can request a new patient appointment online. If you are already an established patient, you can book online through the patient portal. Or you can always call (239) 432-5858 to schedule a consultation with one of Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida’s women’s health-care providers in Fort Myers, Cape Coral or Lehigh Acres.

Treatment of painful intercourse

Pain during intercourse can interfere with intimacy and even affect your self-esteem and self-confidence. 

The women’s health experts at Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida will find the root cause of your pain and provide the latest therapies or procedures to restore your sexual health and wellness. 

Sometimes painful intercourse may be psychological in nature, but it can also be caused by a number of gynecological conditions, such as:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Fibroids
• Endometriosis
• Ovarian cysts
• Vaginismus
• Pelvic floor dysfunction
• Menopause
• Gynecological surgery (hysterectomy)

Hormonal changes during menopause or after childbirth are a common cause of painful intercourse for women. 

Psychological causes of painful intercourse for women include:

• Stress
• History of physical or sexual abuse
• Relationship problems
• Anxiety
• Depression

Prescription medications may also affect vaginal lubrication and increase pain during intercourse. This includes antihistamines, antidepressants, and blood pressure medication.

Getting help for painful intercourse

The compassionate women’s health providers at Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida will consult with you and conduct an examination to determine what is making intercourse painful for you.  

The doctor or certified nurse midwife will take an in-depth history and perform a physical, including a pelvic exam. Your provider will also order diagnostic tests to confirm or rule out possible causes. This may include:

• Checking hormone levels
• Testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
• Ultrasound to evaluate reproductive organs
• Comprehensive blood work to assess overall health and wellness

Your gynecologist will devise an individualized treatment plan based on the underlying cause and severity of symptoms. 

Your treatment plan may include:

• Disease-specific medication (e.g., antibiotic to treat PID)
• Change in prescription medication to alleviate vaginal dryness
• Hormone therapy
• Minimally invasive surgery (e.g., treatment for fibroids, ovarian cysts)
• vaginal lubricants and moisturizers
• vaginal dilators

For vaginal dryness and atrophy caused by hormonal changes, the team at Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida offers the innovative MonaLisa Touch®. This advanced CO2 laser rejuvenates vaginal tissue by increasing blood circulation and stimulating the production of collagen.

If you are in need of compassionate, state-of-the-art care for painful intercourse, you can request a new patient appointment online. If you are already an established patient, you can book online through the patient portal. Or you can always call (239) 432-5858 to schedule a consultation with one of Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida’s women’s health-care providers in Fort Myers, Cape Coral or Lehigh Acres.