When Sex Hurts

Q: For the first time in my life, having sex hurts. Is there anything that I can do about this?

A: The most important thing you can do is to bring it up with your health care professional as the pain you are experiencing may be a symptom of menopause. The 2009 REVEAL (REvealing Vaginal Effects At mid-Life) Surveys, sponsored by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, showed that many women were aware of the often-discussed symptoms of menopause -  hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings - but fewer women knew that vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse can also be a part of the menopausal transition.
At menopause, women produce less estrogen than they did before. When estrogen levels begin dropping, vaginal walls become thinner and less lubricated and this can lead to considerable discomfort. Painful intercourse resulting from menopause is called dyspareunia, and in the REVEAL Surveys, 1 out of 4 postmenopausal women reported experiencing dyspareunia. Dyspareunia is not something that has to be tolerated as it’s an issue that can be resolved through open communication with a health care professional. There are treatment options that can restore vaginal tissue. In fact, in November of 2008, the FDA  approved Premarin Vaginal Cream (PVC) used locally on the genital tissues, specifically for the treatment of dyspareunia. Unlike other therapies, such as lubricants or moisturizers, PVC treats the underlying cause of painful intercourse and actually restores vaginal tissue moisture and reverses changes that occur during menopause. Again, sex should not be painful and is something that does not need to be tolerated. I encourage you to speak with your health care professional. -- Susan Kellogg, CRNP, PhD

Susan Kellogg, CRNP, PhD, is the co-founder of The Pelvic and Sexual Health Institute of Philadelphia, where she is managing partner and the director of Vulvar and Sexual Medicine. Dr. Kellogg is professor of OB/GYN at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, professor of human sexuality at Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania, and clinical associate faculty at the University of Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

For more information, check out the REVEAL Surveys.