Tuesday, May 08, 2007 12:10 PM

Q. Supposed to hurt?

Q. Is there any way, besides having children, to stretch out your vagina? Whenever my husband and I have sex, it always takes so long for him to penetrate me. It's like my first time every time -- and not in a good way. Can I fix this? I would really appreciate your help.

A. Many women mistakenly wish they had your problem. They think they're too loose and wish they were tighter. Unfortunately, you're experiencing something that quite a few women do, and they often feel unable -- or too embarrassed -- to speak about with their partner.

First, it's important to consider whether this is related to nerves and anxiety or an actual physical tightness. Many women when feeling anxious about sex tighten up their vaginal muscles. Once you learn how to relax, trust your husband, and enjoy sex, your muscles will relax too.

If you feel it may be about anxiety or sexual inhibitions, then you and your husband need to take your lovemaking back to the foreplay stage. Introduce some deep breathing and muscle relaxation as you two simply caress each other and build trust slowly. Don’t rush to penetrative sex -- you can always give him manual or oral stimulation to bring him to orgasm and vice versa.

If you still believe it's a physical issue, then it's best to consult your doctor. We are all constructed differently. In your case, it might mean you're slightly smaller than the average woman or have tighter muscles.

>> Have a question for Dr. Pam? Email her at: drpam@thenest.com

Dr. Pam is the author of Make Love All Night & Talk to Him in the Morning and Naughty Tricks and Sexy Tips: A Couple's Guide to Uninhibited Sexual Pleasure

 

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Comments

re: Q. Supposed to hurt?

I have this problem too it seems. Some positions make it less painful though.

Posted by dakabn    Sunday, December 16, 2007 3:24 PM


re: Q. Supposed to hurt?

I have the same problem. My husband can't even enter me. We just stopped haing sex.

Posted by kbteacher    Tuesday, December 18, 2007 4:04 PM


re: Q. Supposed to hurt?

When my husband and I had similar problems, my doctor sent me to a physical therapist who specialized in women's health.  At first I was completely mortified to be talking with yet another person about this, and a little afraid of what sort of "treatment" she might perform!  However, it turned out to be the greatest experience.  Her treatments did help and, in fact, she found that my tailbone was completely out of place.... which was likely causing all of my problems.  Weird, huh?  But my GYN. would never have figured that out, so I was so grateful to be seeing someone else.

Posted by katie_marie    Wednesday, January 23, 2008 11:17 PM


re: Q. Supposed to hurt?

I was having problems when we got married with pain as well. It was so bad he could not penetrate at all. But I figurd out I have vaginismus, which is totally treatable. I was able to overcome it and have sex with no pain now! So I would consider in your case to go to vaginismus.com its a great site and can really help.

Posted by ocwife    Thursday, January 31, 2008 6:54 PM


re: Q. Supposed to hurt?

I have struggled with the same problem for years, there are so many potential causes, dont let your doctor tell you you just have a yeast infection or something, ask to see a pelvic floor specialist, they can figure out if its a muscle problem (that can be fixed be learning, yes you have to learn, how to relax) or a nerve problem which can be treated with certain creams or low doses of antidepressants. good luck, and as the person before said, vaginismus.com is a great site!

Posted by bellajones    Saturday, February 02, 2008 10:25 PM


re: Q. Supposed to hurt?

Hi - I have this same problem! Well my husband loves the tightness, but i was in so much pain. It caused lots of problems, mainly me not wanting to have sex or crying everytime we did. my husband was so patient but told me to talk with my Dr. We have been using KY intimacy (it is $20 a bottle but the best one we have tried by far, the others left a burning sensation) since our honeymoon and that has helped, but i wanted it to be natural. I spoke with my Dr and she said my birth control could be contributing to the dryness. Also, she explained that the anxiety of having sex (since i Knew it was going to hurt) would make me tense up. She also recommended that i get on top more often. I have found that that really helps! Even when i am tired I make it a point to get on top. It lets me be in control and it gets me more in the mood and allows me to get wet more than when he is on top. I am really interested to check out vaginismus.com too. Take it slowly and Definitely talk it out with your husband!

Posted by charyd27    Wednesday, May 07, 2008 4:11 PM


re: Q. Supposed to hurt?

Someone mentioned seeing a Pelvic Floor Specialist.  There is a difference between Vaginismus (vagina tightens and in essence, "spits out" anything trying to enter).  If you have this, you more than likely cannot use tampons either.  If you can use them but just experience pain and tightness during sex, that could be pelvic floor dysfunction or other pelvic floor problems.  Look for a women's health practitioner or a Sexual Health Practitioner --they are more in the know that the average OB/GYN or doctor.

Posted by leilaansart    Friday, July 25, 2008 7:55 PM


re: Q. Supposed to hurt?

Leila, I found your post interesting. I can not use tampons cause they HURT way to bad and so does sex. To make sex less painful my husband and I have a long session of foreplay first then we use lube. Jo Lube is good to it feels like silicone. The worst thing for me other than the pain was the burning feeling.

Posted by jofrog_18@yahoo.com    Monday, August 18, 2008 5:05 PM


re: Q. Supposed to hurt?

I had a lot of problem with pain during sex right after we got married. I'm quite tight and my husband is... well endowed. It was very unpleasant every time. We found that it took lots of patience and trying. He started out by inserting one finger (I was never able to wear tampons and was QUITE tight... even the one finger hurt.) and we'd stretch out as much as we could. Then we moved to two fingers and pretty soon his penis was sliding in easier. Now we're having successful intercourse (took us awhile to get to that point!) It does still feel unpleasant at times, usually right after he inserts his penis. I've found if I simply relax and BREATHE, it loosens up and gets easier in a minute or two. I talk to my husband and let him know what I'm feeling, and he knows to be gentle.

We try to have fun with it. When we did our stretching exercises, we'd try to make that fun too. I found if I could laugh a bit I'd relax a bit more. Don't lie there and wait for it to hurt. Try to focus on the good sensations you're feeling. The less I think about pain, the less I feel. Also, your husband should be willing to do things that feel good to you. For us, after I'd be brave and we'd do our stretching, I'd get a reward and we'd do something that felt good to me. You can still have an amazing sex life even without intercourse!

Keep trying, and keep talking with your hubby.

Posted by JamieKocur    Friday, September 26, 2008 11:51 AM


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