What causes pain after sex and is bleeding normal? Intimate health questions, answered

25.01.2022 - 16:35 / ok.co.uk

Though topics such as ovarian cysts are becoming less stigmatised, with celebrities like Vicky Pattison opening up about their painful periods, other intimate health issues - particularly those that affect women - remain a taboo subject. But with Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s time to remove the embarrassment from intimate health and to talk about issues that affect thousands of people.

OK! spoke exclusively to Dr Earim Chaudry, MD of men's health platform Manual, and Dearbhail Ormond, CEO and founder of endometriosis awareness platform Frendo, to explain the common causes of painful sex. “Pain during sex can affect both genders, however is more common in women,” says Dr Chaudry.

“Experiencing pain before, during or after intercourse is known as dyspareunia and affects around 75% of women at some point in their life.” What causes pain during sex? Given that around three quarters of women experience discomfort during or after sex, pain can be caused by many things and can be felt in different areas. “Factors contributing to the cause of dyspareunia can be either physical, psychological or a combination of the two,” explains Dr Chaudry.

“In women, pain can occur in the vagina or the pelvis and is caused by a number of conditions such as an infection, changing hormone levels which causes dryness, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).” Dearbhail agrees and encourages anyone suffering with discomfort to discuss it with a medical professional. “Pain during or after sex is one of the most common symptoms of endometriosis, and one that shouldn’t be ignored,” she says.