Pain During Intercourse
What Is Pain During Intercourse (Dyspareunia)?
Pain can result from a variety of emotional and physical factors, including stress deep in the pelvic region. It is hard to pinpoint the cause of pain during or after intercourse as there are many conditions that could lead to this feeling.
What Causes Pain During Intercourse?
Pelvic pain, in particular, can result from:
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Scarring of ligaments from childbirth or pelvic surgery
- Tightening of the pelvic floor muscles
Pain during intercourse may also point to other pelvic conditions, including:
- Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS): A condition that involves regular pain in the pelvic region
- Pudendal neuralgia (PN) or pudendal nerve entrapment (PNE): Both involve stress on the pudendal nerve which runs between the anus and the genitals
- Piriformis Syndrome: The compression of the piriformis muscle and sciatic nerve in the buttock
Pain During Intercourse Can Be Due To Conditions/Symptoms:
Vulvodynia: chronic vulvar pain with no discernable cause that may be the result of sex-related nerve injury or irritation
Vaginismus: painful vaginal contractions that may be a result of performance anxiety, often treated with Kegel exercises
Levator Ani Syndrome: a type of chronic proctalgia (or recurrent rectal pain) in which a muscle in the pelvis is often sensitive and sore\
Dyspareunia Risk Factors:
- Gynecologic Disorders
- Endometriosis
- Chronic Prostatitis
- History of STD
- Pelvic Floor Spasm/Hypertonia
- Hermia

Our treatment protocols aim to bring relief to the contracted or tightness occurring in the pelvic floor which can drastically improve many problem areas in the body.
We help develop a personalized treatment plan so you can enjoy sex the way you deserve. Our holistic approach to healing, combined with physical therapy and traditional treatments, ensures a plan that addresses your pelvic symptoms.
Relevant Publications/Citations
Shrikhande A, Ahmed T, Shrikhande G, Hill C. A Novel, Non-Opiod Based Treatment Approach to Men with Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (UCPPS) Using Ultrasound Guided Nerve Hydrodissection and Pelvic Floor Musculature Trigger Point Injections. The International Continence Society. 2018 Aug. Link to Article.
Walter Frontera, Julie Silver, Thomas Rizzo,Tayyaba Ahmed, Isabel Chan. Musculoskeletal Disorders, Pain, and Rehabilitation. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2018 Nov; 4(107): 587-595. Link to Article.
Ahmed T. Interviewee on Pelvic Health Summit - Pelvic Pain and Sexual Health. Pelvic Health Summit. 2018 May. Link to Interview.