Why Your Vagina Burns During or After Penetrative Sex

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 14 April 2021; Last Updated: 31 October 2023; 2498 Views

Have you ever wondered why your vagina burns either during or after penetrative sex? Healthline writer Simone Scully reached out to me for answers to this burning question, and I was glad to reply. Here is a brief synopsis of the article with a link to the full article below.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

So You Just Had Great Sex, and Now You're Wondering Why Your Vagina Burns?

Read on for some of the reasons why and what you can do about it.

Sex should be good. Like, really, really good. It definitely shouldn’t be painful or uncomfortable, and yet, for far too many people, it is. And yet according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), nearly 3 out of every 4 women will experience pain during intercourse at some point in their lives. And one of the most common types of pain is a burning sensation.

If this has happened to you, know that it isn’t “normal” and you don’t have to “put up with it.”

As the article outlines, here are some potential causes if the burning started during penetration:

Hormonal contraception
Childbirth and nursing
Menopause - we have some great articles on how to navigate menopause here!
Hormonal disorders - more info on how hormones affect your sex life here
Allergy medications: As I mentioned to Simone, some allergy medications can also affect the fluids in your vagina. As I mentioned to allergy medications essentially dry you up, and this can mean less moisture in your vagina tissue too, which can contribute to pain.
Irritation
Fissures
Infection
Vaginismus - there is sooo much info on our site, but start here
Vestibulodynia
Interstitial cystitis - here's a video interview I did on navigating painful intercourse with interstitial cystitis

As I mentioned at the outset, this is only a brief overview of everything covered by Simone in the Healthline article. To learn more about why your vagina burns during or after penetrative sex, continue to the full article here.

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After having my second baby via C-section I searched for months to try to find help for my lower back pain and separated abdominal muscles. I finally came across Heather Jeffcoat via a mommy blog. I reached out to her via email and set my first appointment. My first appointment went amazing … she listened to what my symptoms, check my separation and explained to me in detail what the next steps would be. Not only did my abdominal separation go from 3 to about 1 -1/2 but my back has pain has significantly reduced. I’m personally recommending all my mommy friends to Heather!

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I had tried Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy before (with another PT) and I had a really bad (painful) experience. A friend of mine and fellow patient, told me about Heather, Laureen and Femina PT (née Fusion Wellness & Physical Therapy) and I decided to try again. I am so happy I did! Femina PT have, literally, changed my life. I was able to do again things I couldn't do for over 10 years!! Their bedside manners are impeccable, their knowledge and understanding make me feel comfortable to recommend this place to anyone in pain. Specially if you have Endometriosis. 100% recommended!!

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Testimonial by M.N., age 28

A personal journey and testimonial from one of my patients:

I was diagnosed with vaginismus 4 years ago. I never heard of such medical condition until after I got married. At first my husband and I didn't know what to do, we didn't know what the issues were or how to overcome it. Being born and raised in Armenia and being Christian I wasn't that open about talking to sex with others and so it wasn't easy to seek help. But eventually I went to an Ob-Gyn and luckily she knew about the medical condition (not many doctors know). She referred me to a physical therapist and I couldn't believe it and thought it's something I can handle myself. I ordered a kit from vaginismus.com and started practicing with dilators. There was some small progress but wasn't much helpful.
Read more: Testimonial by M.N., age 28

Testimonial by A.B.

Before I was referred to Heather Jeffcoat I was living in a nightmare. I had been married to my husband for three years and I was suffering from Vaginismus. That all changed when I visited my OBGYN and she said she knew of someone with a great success rate. To be honest I was hesitant at first because my first doctor had already told me that all I needed to do was order dilators from the internet and I should overcome my problem. She was wrong because I had followed the book on how to use the dilators with absolutely no advancements in my condition. However, that all changed when I went in for my first visit and Heather took the time to explain my condition and how we were going to work together to overcome it.

I remember leaving her office with a glimmer of hope that I could live a normal life. As my sessions continued I began to see immediate results. With only four sessions and a strict dedication to my home programs I was cured of Vaginismus. In the beginning of this process I was made aware that my health insurance company might not cover the costs, which was disappointing but today I can say one hundred percent that it was the best money I ever spent. Now thanks to Heather I am finally enjoying my life to the fullest with my husband. Thank you Heather, I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate all that you have done for me. I will never forget it. Those who are suffering from these types of conditions don’t be afraid because she makes you feel so comfortable and the end result is worth it. Good luck to you all and I hope you experience the success I have.

-- A.B.

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I went to Heather after the birth of my third child. It was lucky, really, that I was referred to her, because my doctor had referred me to a surgeon for a possible hysterectomy or pelvic wall rebuild. Thankfully, I went to Heather before undergoing either surgery, she was able to fix the problem. She has studied extensively in women's health--even written a book about it--and was able to diagnose my problem, suggest a course of treatment (6 weeks), and then follow through with said treatment. By the end, as she said, I was as good as gold. Boy, was it worth it! Though uncomfortable to talk about, much less write about, it is worth getting the word out there. If you have painful intercourse, especially after birth or other trauma, the treatment may be as simple as Physical Therapy (with Heather, of course). I highly recommend her.

-- Fritzette H., 3/24/16 via Yelp!

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Healthline | Why Your Vagina Burns During or After Penetrative Sex