When Sex is Painful

A concise and helpful outline of the various types of vulvovaginal pain and their treatments. Not holistic or feminist, but factually accurate.

Pain during sex may be a sign of a gynecologic problem, such as ovarian cysts or endometriosis. Pain during sex also may be caused by problems with sexual response, such as a lack of desire (the feeling of wanting to have sex) or a lack of arousal (the physical and emotional changes that occur in the body as a result of sexual stimulation).

SOURCE: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists • LAST UPDATED: January 1, 2022