Heather Jeffcoat on Bustle.com | A Burning Sensation In Your Vagina and What To Do About It

8 Types Of Discomfort During Intimacy To Be Aware Of

Heather Jeffcoat was asked to contribute to an article at the popular website Bustle about the possible causes, prevention, and therapeutic treatments available for various issues surrounding pain and discomfort during and/or after sexual intercourse.

The article begins with:

If you've ever had penetrative sex, chances are it hurt the first time, or was at least a little uncomfortable until your body adjusted. The next time you did it, things probably went a little smoother. While it's totally normal to feel uncomfortable during sex at the beginning, there are definitely types of discomfort during sex to be aware of, according to experts."

To quote Dr. Jeffcoat:

Rule of thumb: If any part of your genitals burns, it's probably time to investigate. If you're sure that you don't have an STI, a sensation of burning or rawness with penetration may be due to vestibulodynia (a type of vulvodynia) or vaginismus, Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, a pelvic floor physical therapist, owner of Femina Physical Therapy, and author of Sex Without Pain tells Bustle.

Women with vaginismus will often describe their symptom 'Like my partner is hitting a wall,'" she says. "They don’t always describe it as pain, but more of an inability to have penetrative intercourse, and in severe cases, tampon insertion." Seek the help of a licensed and trained pelvic floor physical therapist for help addressing your sexual discomfort through techniques like dilation and stretches, Dr. Jeffcoat says.