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Why Is My Vagina Sore? 7 Reasons You Might Be In Pain
As a woman, there's just about nothing worse than experiencing pain in your nether regions. The only thing worse than experiencing pain in your nether regions, is experiencing pain and not knowing why it's happening. If you've ever found yourself wondering, "why is my vagina sore," then you'll want to read on to find out the reasons behind the pain you're experiencing.
Experiencing pain or soreness in your genitals can be a scary feeling, especially when you can't pinpoint why you're experience the pain. Though it's easy to go into worst-case-scenario mode when you've got something going on with your vagina, it's important that you seek out help from a professional instead of attempting to deal with things on your own. There could be a number of things irritating your vagina or causing you pain and, often times, attempting to handle the situation yourself can make things worse than they already are.
Reading through the possible list of problems below can help you to determine whether or not what you're experiencing is one thing or another. But regardless of what you think you may be experiencing, you'll want to discuss your symptoms with your personal health professional to see what you can do to soothe your pain and prevent further pain in the future.
1You May Have Vaginismus
According to the Mayo Clinic, vaginismus occurs because of involuntary tightening of the pelvic floor muscles, which control your vaginal opening. This can make a whole lot of things very painful for you and your genitals. Vaginismus can be a lifelong affliction for some women, and for others it can simply begin afflicting them out of nowhere. If you think you may be suffering from vaginismus, see your healthcare provider to discuss how you can treat the condition.
2You Suffer From Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal dryness doesn't occur just during sex. It can affect you in your every day situation. Whether you're experiencing dryness because of a hormone level imbalance, or because of the laundry detergent you're using, vaginal dryness can often be easily alleviated. Rather than living with vaginal dryness, according to Women's Health, you should be able to discuss with your health provider and determine whether a medication or just changing your routine will be the best option to solve your vaginal dryness and alleviate any pain.
3You're Dealing With Vulvodynia
If you're experiencing chronic pain in your vagina, whether it's a soreness, stinging, or burning, according to the National Vulvodynia Association (NVA), you may be suffering from vulvodynia. Though the disorder doesn't have a clear cause, the NVA said it could be from a past injury to your vagina, to allergies, to a weak pelvic floor.
4You Have A Yeast Infection
Yeast infections are pretty much inevitable as a woman. If you've never had one, consider yourself one of the lucky few. And if you have had one, you may think you know the symptoms like the back of your hand. But not all yeast infections come in the same package. Aside from discharge and itchiness, a yeast infection can also cause irritation, swelling, and sometimes just a sore feeling in your vagina, according to the Mayo Clinic.
5You're Getting Too Much Action
The fact is this — if you're having a grand old time during sex with a partner (or a toy) that's a little larger than you're used to, they can leave lasting soreness behind. You shouldn't feel sore after penetrative sex, according to Women's Health. But if you find yourself hurting after every romp with your well-endowed partner, look for suggestions on how to make things easier on yourself. From additional foreplay to extra lube, there are plenty of resources to cope with a large penis. And if it's a toy that's giving you grief, just go down a size, your lady parts will thank you for it later.
6You Have A Sexually Transmitted Infections
Though soreness in the vagina may make you think immediately of a certain sexually transmitted infection (STI), there are several STIs that can cause vaginal pain. From herpes, to chlamydia, to trichomoniasis, there are a lot of things that could be causing your vaginal pain. Rather than ignoring the problem in hopes that it'll go away, head to your doctor as soon as possible to get tested for STIs, and be as thorough as possible when describing your symptoms to your doctor. Many STIs can be cured permanently and easily with the help of a medical professional.
7You're Dealing With Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
According to WebMD the pain associated with pelvic inflammatory disease is often associated with uterine or abdominal pain, but it can also cause pain during penetration, after sex, and while you're on your period. If you're suffering from a combination of these painful symptoms, you should discuss it with a health professional, and have a pelvic exam to determine whether or not you're suffering from the condition.
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