Also called dyspareunia, is any form of pain or discomfort in a woman’s vagina or the lower abdomen during or after sex.

Common causes include;

1. Vagina infections e.g., vaginal thrush, sexually transmitted infections
2. Lack of sexual arousal
3. Emotional disturbance
4. Anxiety
5. Aggressive or violent sex
6. Menopause because it is associated with dryness and thinning of the vaginal wall
7. Drugs that can make the vagina dry e.g., some cough syrups, drugs used for allergy, cold and itching
8. Irritation from latex condom
9. Vaginismus: painful uncontrollable tightening of muscles around the vagina in response to contact especially during sex. It leads to painful sex, difficulty with penetration, and several other social and psychological problems
10. Fibroids or other growths near the mouth of the womb
11. Pelvic inflammatory disease

What you can do

1. Engage in adequate foreplay; women take longer to get aroused. Adequate romance helps a woman’s vagina to be moist and eases penetration.
2. You can use a vaginal lubricant
3. Avoid aggressive or violent sex
4. Get necessary treatment for vaginal infection
5. Use a painkiller
6. Urinate before sexual intercourse
7. You can also apply ice pack wrapped in towel on the vulva after intercourse