Improve Painful Sex with These Three Things to Try at Home

Why Sex is Painful and Three Things to Try

Painful Sex? Try this! 

Maybe you have recently had a baby and had vaginal tearing.
Maybe you are entering menopause and feel like things are a little drier than they used to be.
Maybe you’ve always had pain with sex and you just can’t figure out why. 

If are experiencing pain with sex here are a few tips you can try at home to help improve your symptoms:

1. Try to relax your abdominal and pelvic floor muscles prior to intercourse.  This can be hard to do, especially if you are anticipating pain!  Focus on letting these muscles go and take a few deep belly breaths.  Visualize your vagina widening with each inhale and letting any tension go with each exhale. 

2. Foreplay is essential! Take plenty of time to engage in foreplay with your partner. Cuddling, kissing, touching before penetration all allow your pelvic floor muscles to relax, blood flow to increase in the vulvar tissues, and increases natural lubrication. 

3. Use the lube! Applying lubrication during sex can help decrease friction on any sensitive tissues.  Consider using a water based or silicone based lubricant during foreplay and then reapply before penetration and as needed. A water based lubricant (GoodCleanLove) feels more similar to your body’s natural lubrication but you may need to reapply it more frequently.  A silicone based lubricant (Uberlube) has increased longevity and feels more slippery but may not be compatible with toys.

These are 3 simple things you can try at home but you may also benefit from seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist.  At an evaluation, we can assess the overall health of your vaginal tissues, how your pelvic floor muscles are functioning, and see if there is any scar tissue sensitivity after childbirth. Pain with sex is not normal and you don’t have to live with it.  Talk to one of our therapists today about how you can get back to enjoyable sex!

We’re so happy to help and want to see every woman live their most energetic, active lives! Give us a call at 515-255-3932 to set-up your appointment today!

Breathe. is unique! Private, personalized care that celebrates client victories, big and small. We believe all women deserve to live energetic, vibrant and active lives and it’s our mission to be a partner in achieving that, by specializing in dry needling, DRA, pants peeing, pregnancy/postpartum pain and recovery, pelvic floor dysfunction, headaches, back pain and other orthopedic concerns. 

Appointments available in Des Moines, West Des Moines and Iowa City / Cedar Rapids area. www.breatheptw.com