These tips are general. While anyone is welcome to adapt them if they feel they apply to them, they take the anatomy of the cisgender woman as their starting point.
Vaginal pain (which is separated here from vulvar or superficial pain) can be triggered during or after penetrative sex and sometimes persists for several hours or even a few days.
They can be present following surgery, including a cesarean section, or caused by various gynecological conditions, such as endometriosis.
If you suffer from it, you may have noticed that your symptoms vary depending on sexual positions, but also on your menstrual cycle.
Here are some things to try:
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Make sure your level of sexual arousal is sufficient before starting penetration – the vagina then lengthens and gains volume;
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Opt for sex positions that limit the depth of penetration – for example, those where both partners are lying on their sides;
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Adjust other positions so your pelvis is higher than your shoulders – gravity can cause the cervix to move up into the pelvis, especially in cases of organ prolapse. For example, if you are kneeling, support yourself on your forearms rather than your hands. If you are lying on your back, place a pillow under your buttocks.
There are also therapeutic tools on the market to limit the depth of penetration or to relax the muscles and other tissues around the vagina that could be responsible for your discomfort (in Floravi's store, take a look at the dilators).
Also, don't hesitate to consult a healthcare professional if these suggestions do not allow for comfortable penetration, if your pain worsens, or if you experience other symptoms.
Elise Dubé
Physiotherapist, holder of a certificate in perineal and pelvic rehabilitation