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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Is painful sex during menopause normal?

    Related Topics
    Menopause Women's Health
    Since I have been menopausal I am finding sex to be very painful, is there a way to reduce this pain? Is it normal?
    • 2 answers
    • Dr Margaret Redelman
    • Dr Angamuthu Arun
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    Dr Margaret Redelman

    GP (General Practitioner)

    I come from a general practice background and have over 30 years experience in sexual health. I am an accredited Clinical Psychosexual Therapist with the … View Profile

    It is not uncommon to experience dryness and discomfort/pain with intercourse peri- and post menopause. As your hormones decrease so does the speed and amount of lubrication that you make  during sexual arousal as compared to before. If you are not having regular intercouse your vagina also decreases in size and flexibilty.

    Does this mean you should stop making love or suffer in pain? No!

    1 Talk to your partner, explain to him that you want to make love with him but …. this is what you are experiencing.

    2 Buy a water soluble lubricant and use some from the very first touch.

    3 Ask yor lover to slow down and have lots of fun foreplay before intercourse so your body gets a chance to become aroused and make intercourse comfortable.

    4 Try different positions where you control the angle, depth and speed of penetration.

    5 Have regular vaginal penetration ( dildo by you, fingers or penis) so that the vagina is regularly exercised and stretched to maintain pliability.

    6 Do daily pelvic floor exercises to keep the muscles strong. This keeps things from falling down and maintains ability to have orgasms (good ones).

    7 HRT is also helpful . Talk this over with your GP. Vaginal local applications have almost no systemic side-effects.

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  • Dr Angamuthu Arun

    Gynaecologist

    Dr Arun offers specialised service in the following areas: Holistic approach in the management of Urinary Incontinence including Urodynamics for women Botox injections to bladder … View Profile

    I agree with this.

    You may consider Laser or radiofrequency therapy if the above measures fail.

    Only drawback is that the above therapies particularly laser is expensive as it is not medicare rebatable.

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