Pain During Intercourse

Symptoms of pain related to intercourse can occur when entry is attempted or during or immediately following sexual intercourse.

• The most common symptom is pain on entry.

• The second most common symptom is deep pain.

• Other symptoms include feelings of muscle spasms, cramps, or muscle tightness.

Pain during intercourse may be described as primary or secondary, as complete or situational, and as superficial-entrance or deep thrust types.

• Primary pain with intercourse is pain that has existed for the woman’s entire sexual lifetime.
  
  
• Secondary pain develops after a symptom-free period of time.
  
  
• Complete pain means the woman experiences pain in all situations of intercourse.
  
  
• Situational pain occurs with a particular partner or a certain type of stimulation.
  
  
• Superficial-entrance pain is noticeable at penetration.
  
  
• Deep thrust pain is located at the cervix or in the lower abdominal area and is noticeable during or after penetration.

A woman may perceive pain during intercourse even without any physical cause. Sexual pain without an apparent physical cause may be a mental health issue.