Some women may wonder why they experience minor to severe pain during or after any touch or level of penetration to the genitals, ranging from routine gynecological examinations or sexual intercourse. The pain can differ depending on the type of touch, the degree of penetration, or level of sensation experienced, for example, force of thrusting during sex. Women may experience a variety of symptoms, such as pain, burning, aching, deep thrusting pain, or long-lasting throbbing after intercourse.

Women may experience painful sex for various reasons. Whether they have mild discomfort or extreme pain during or after sex, it can lead to frustration, relationship trauma, and emotional turmoil. A few causes of painful sex include:

• Injury or trauma, such as pregnancy, childbirth, or irritation from a genital injury can lead to pain.
• Infection or inflammation from a urinary tract infection or yeast overgrowth can make intercourse painful.
• A lack of lubrication, often from the absence of foreplay, can make sex painful for many women. Hormonal imbalances can also decrease natural lubrication. 
• Some women have vaginal spasms, vaginismus, that lead to painful sex.
• Physical deformities such as an imperforate hymen can lead to frequent pain.
• Vulvodynia or pain in the vulva.