Ep 20: Why Do Females Find Sex Painful? | Vaginismus- Causes & Treatment

Why do females find sex painful? What is Vaginismus & its causes?

We’ve heard stories about how SEX hurts but is it normal? Let’s find out together! On this episode of #AskTheSexpert, host Artika Singh converses with psychotherapist Kanusha about pain during penetrative sex and if there is a remedy to it.

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June 5 . 11 min

Guest bio

Ms. Kanusha YK is a clinical psychologist and sexual wellness psychotherapist. With over six years of experience, Ms. Kanusha excels in addressing a diverse range of mental and sexual health concerns, including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, sexual dysfunctions, and other related issues. Her expertise and compassionate approach make her a trusted professional for individuals seeking support and guidance. Ms. Kanusha's dedication to providing effective therapy enables her clients to overcome challenges and enhance their overall mental well-being. She is fluent in English, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi.

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Few highlights from the podcast

"This is a very, very commonly experienced phenomena - pain during penetrative vaginal sex. And while it is a negative experience, I'm glad that more people are now becoming vocal about it."
- Ms. Artika, Sexual Health Educator, Allo Health

Viewer’s QnA from the podcast

Q: I experience pain sometimes and sometimes I don't. How should I make it stop once and for all?
So there could be a couple of reasons for that. I think she would definitely require a detailed evaluation by a doctor, but it could be either because, you know, sometimes she's not sexually aroused. Thus leading to a lack of lubrication, thus leading to, you know, friction during intercourse, maybe. Or it could be maybe sometimes just tired. You're not in the mood or sometimes you probably have an infection. A UTI, uh so it could be typical reasons around this. Or if you've maybe maybe masturbated a little roughly. The area feels a little sore. So lot many reasons, which is why it's important to consult with a doctor first. And have it evaluated.
Q: I
I think the one very important thing we've been talking about very commonly is communication and what a big role it plays. I think it's a common theme. Well, that's exactly right. So I think sex, sexual intimacy in general is largely based on communication, likes and dislikes- so on and so forth. So I think it's very important she first, she should be able to rather develop a you know, being able to talk to a partner and say that it's not okay and it's causing me discomfort because otherwise, how is it even a pleasurable activity? The second thing is, you know, maybe she herself can consult with a doctor, a therapist, or maybe both of them together, but unfortunately does. I'm sorry. Unfortunately it does lead to avoidance and a lot of negative emotions. But I think once you have it understood and identified and then treated, sexual intimacy can be very pleasurable and enjoyable. And yeah, it may become better and healthier for you than ever before.
Q: I haven't been sexually active yet, but I have endometriosis. I'm scared it'll hurt when I have sex because that's what I read online. Is it true?
Yeah, unfortunately, that can be a little, you know, cause a few problems here and there. And it is a very painful condition for a lot many women, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can't have sexual intimacy or sexual intercourse with someone. Yeah, but again, I think it's advisable to consult with a doctor because based on your symptoms or the severity of it, appropriate medication treatment can be given and, you know, a few lifestyle modifications on the side. And I think you should be good to go.

Read transcript

Sexpert + Topic Intro I recently received an email from one of the audience members which talked about how she's dating somebody, but they've not yet had any form of penetrative sex because she's terrified of the pain she thinks she's going to experience. And you know what? This is a very, very commonly experienced phenomena - pain during penetrative vaginal sex. And while it is a negative experience, I'm glad that more people are now becoming vocal about it. So I thought, I'm going to have a sexpert over today and talk about this more, but before that. Welcome to our podcast. Allo #AskTheSexpert a space where we talk about sex, pleasure, wellness and answer all of your questions with the sexpert so that you can have better sex, and safer sex- backed by science So I
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