Painful intercourse or painful sex can be experienced as pelvic pain, vaginal pain, or pain in the labial or vulvar areas during sex. Pain may be experienced as deep pain, sharp pain, or a burning sensation.

Pain during intercourse is one of the most common causes of problems of sexual dysfunction.

Causes of painful sex

Possible reasons for this apparent increased prevalence include the following:

 Thinning and dryness of the vaginal walls after menopause,

 Sexually transmitted disease

 Vulvodynia

 Lichens / Vulval pre cancer (other skin condition) vaginismus (muscle spasms of the vaginal wall muscles),

 Urinary tract infection

 Changes in sexual behaviour

 Injuries or irritation of the vagina due to any cause

 Endometriosis