When deep penetration hurts

Having pain with deep penetration without understanding why can be very exhausting. Often there is a specific cause behind the pain, and it is worth having it investigated.

Deep penetration can cause pain for many different reasons. For some women, it is related to endometriosis, scar tissue or a retroverted uterus. For others, the cause may be a tender bladder, a full bowel, tense pelvic floor muscles or a combination of several factors.

The most important thing is not to find one sexual position that works for everyone, but to understand what may be happening in your own body when deep penetration hurts.

If you do not already know what is causing your pain, talk to your doctor. Persistent, new or worsening pain during deep penetration deserves a thorough assessment. You can prepare for the appointment by reading See the doctor about sexual pain.

It may help to picture the upper part of the vagina as lying in a space between the bladder, uterus and rectum. When penetration becomes deep, it is not only the vagina that is affected. Pressure can be transferred to the surrounding organs, ligaments and muscles.

Which structure reacts depends on which areas are tender or irritated, your individual anatomy and the direction of penetration. This is why two women with the same diagnosis can experience pain during deep penetration very differently.

What can cause pain during deep penetration?

The upper part of the vagina lies close to several organs, muscles and other tissues within the pelvis. During deep penetration, pressure may therefore affect a number of different structures.

More than one area may be involved at the same time. The location and nature of the pain cannot necessarily tell you precisely what is causing it.