它估计了近80％的女性将在某些时候体验痛苦的性爱（Dyspareunia）。这被描述为之前，期间或之后的燃烧，悸动和疼痛。

The underlying reasons vary, but range from the involuntary contraction of vaginal muscles during penetration, to vaginal dryness caused by a drop in estrogen during menopause.

痛苦的性别有时会自己解决。当条件持续或干扰性健康时，是时候与医生进行了谈话了。

It’s understandable if you feel uncomfortable addressing this topic with your doctor. Rather than live with pain, here are a few tips for discussing this sensitive topic (and others) with your doctor.

你可能犹豫与与朋友或亲人的痛苦性发生的对话，因为你令人尴尬或觉得他们不会理解。

虽然您可能不会与朋友或家人带来主题，但这是一个你应该与医生讨论的主题。你的医生在这里帮助，而不是判断你。永远不要尴尬或羞于让你的医生提出健康问题。

你可能有多个医生。例如，您可以看到一家家庭医生或全科医生，用于年度体育和其他疾病。您还可能还有一个妇科医生，用于妇女健康的问题。

A gynecologist is an excellent choice to discuss the topic with, but feel free to consult your general practitioner if you have a better relationship with them. If you’re embarrassed about painful sex, it might help to discuss the issue with the doctor you’re most comfortable around.

Some general practitioners have considerable training in women’s health, so they can make recommendations and prescribe medication to make sex less painful.

After you schedule your appointment, you can usually find an online messaging portal to provide more information about why you’re scheduling an appointment. For instance, you can message the nurse or doctor to let them know about your painful sex symptoms.

提前媒体致辞，而不是在您预约时讨论它们可能会让您感觉更舒适。而且，通过此提前信息，您的医生可以准备帮助您的预约。

If an online messaging portal isn’t available, rehearse what you want to say before your appointment. This can help ease nervousness. You’ll get the most out of your appointment if you’re able to explain yourself clearly and thoroughly to your doctor.

It’s OK to be nervous about opening up to your doctor, especially with a sensitive issue like painful sex. It’s also OK to admit that you’re nervous and uncomfortable with the topic.

您可以通过告诉您的医生来开始讨论，“我有点尴尬地说，”或“我以前从未与任何人分享过这个。”

Letting your doctor know this is a sensitive topic will help them guide you to open up. The more comfortable you feel with your doctor, the better conversation you’ll have. Being at ease also makes it easier to explain issues with your sexual health.

Getting to the bottom of what’s causing painful sex requires some personal information. Be prepared to answer questions at your appointment that relate to your sex life and other personal issues.

You need to be open and honest with your doctor so they can give you the correct treatment.

你的医生可能会问你什么时候伤害。疼痛在性生活之前，期间或之后开始吗？您是否只在渗透开始时体验疼痛，或者疼痛会变得更加严重吗？

Your doctor may even ask your feelings about sex. Do you like it? Does it make you scared or nervous? These questions can determine whether painful sex is due to a condition like vaginismus, which is the involuntary contraction of vaginal muscles often caused by fear of intimacy.

如果最近的问题开始，您的医生可能会提出问题，以评估这一领域是否经历过伤害，创伤或感染。

如果您在40多岁或50年代，您的医生可能会询问您的月经周期。如果您的周期变得不规则或完全停止，则可能是由于与未知为外阴和阴道萎缩相关的病症引起的痛苦性。这导致阴道壁的干燥和变薄，触发痛苦的性行为。

If you’re uncomfortable talking about painful sex, you might put off discussing. However, bringing up the topic early in the appointment will give your doctor more time to ask you questions about your symptoms.

Bring up the topic early to ensure your doctor has time to evaluate your issue and offer the right treatment.

Starting the conversation with your doctor about painful sex can be more comfortable when you have support. If you’ve discussed this problem with your partner, sibling, or a close friend, ask this person to accompany you to your appointment.

在房间里有一个熟悉的面孔可以放心。此人可以提出有关条件的问题，并为您提供笔记。

Pain, burning, or throbbing with penetration can become so intense that you avoid intimacy. If painful sex doesn’t improve with over-the-counter (OTC) lubrication or at-home remedies, talk with your doctor. Sexual problems can be hard to talk about, but you’ll need to identify the underlying cause so it can be treated.