Endometriosis and sex: tips for relief

Women with endometriosis may experience pain during sex. Here are tips to help reduce pain and make sex more comfortable

Endometriosis is a condition in which uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus, often causing pain and discomfort.

Symptoms of endometriosis include painful cramps, spotting between periods, and for some women, pain during sex.

Painful sex, also known as dyspareunia, might happen because penetration may stretch and pull on endometrial tissues. Another factor is that hormone treatment or a hysterectomy may cause vaginal dryness, which makes sex more painful or uncomfortable.

Some women may experience sharp, stabbing pain or a deep ache. Here are tips to make sex more enjoyable and less painful if you or your partner have endometriosis.

Change positions

Try different sex positions that will allow you to have greater control over the speed and depth of penetration. Having the woman on top or trying the sideways or spoon positions can help.

You might want to avoid the missionary position, which puts the uterus at an angle that can make sex more painful for women with endometriosis. Or you can use pillows to elevate the woman’s pelvis, which puts the uterus at a less painful angle.

Find a rhythm that works

Deep, thrusting penetration may be more painful for women with endometriosis. To reduce pain or discomfort, try going slowly and finding a rhythm that works for you. Gentler movements with less thrusting can be more comfortable.

Use lubrication

Vaginal dryness can be a side effect of some hormone treatments or it can occur for other reasons. Lube can help relieve discomfort caused by dryness.

Try water-based or silicone-based lube and use as much as you need! The more the better if you feel like you don’t have enough natural lubrication to have comfortable sex.

Try sex alternatives

Instead of penetrative sex, try non-penetrative sex or alternatives like using sex toys, foreplay, massaging, or kissing. Penetrative sex isn’t the only way to have an enjoyable sexual experience.

You can experiment with other methods of arousal and find what works best for you and your partner.

Take painkillers before sex

Over-the-counter painkillers like Tylenol or Ibuprofen can help if you take them an hour before sex. Painkillers can also help afterwards if pain persists.

Communicate with your partner

Talking openly and honestly with your partner about the experience of having endometriosis can make it easier to navigate sex together.

Together, you can communicate about what’s working and what isn’t. Establishing trust and open communication also makes it easier to express yourself when you’re in pain.

Keep track of your pain

Take note of when you experience pain and other factors that might be connected to your pain. Are you on your period? Are you stressed? Did you eat certain foods?

These questions can help you understand when pain occurs and what might cause it. That way you can plan to have sex at times when you won’t experience as much pain.

Seek treatment for endometriosis

While there is no cure for endometriosis, doctors can treat symptoms with medication or sometimes surgery.

If you’re diagnosed with endometriosis or think you might have endometriosis, chat with your doctor about your symptoms and potential treatments.

At Alpha, we offer treatment for endometriosis in the form of hormonal birth control, which can help alleviate endometriosis pain. For women who are trying to get pregnant, our doctors can prescribe medication that stops the body from making hormones responsible for endometriosis growths.

If you have endometriosis, you don’t have to go through it alone. Visit our website to learn more about endometriosis and the other medical conditions that we treat online. All you have to do is complete an online consultation and our medical team will review your symptoms and recommend a treatment plan or medication.

In most cases we can mail your prescription straight to your door with free shipping. Get started with Alpha today!