All About PCOS and Painful Sex

If you have PCOS, Endometriosis, or if sex is painful for you for other reasons, you’re not alone! Just because sexual penetration may be painful or uncomfortable, it doesn’t mean that you have to give up a healthy, and pleasurable sex life.

Lube can be a lifesaver for people who experience discomfort during sex. There are many different kinds of lubes, and they work well for different situations. Silicone lubes are compatible with most condoms and have a lot of staying power. They don’t wash away easily, which means you can use them in the bath or shower as well. They’re not recommended for use with silicone toys, however, because they may react and degrade the quality of your toys over time. Water-based lubes are fantastic for toys, because they’re safe for use with all toy materials. 

Another amazing tip we’ve learned is to use dilators. Dilators are tools crafted to gradually stretch your vaginal canal, making it easier for penetration when the time comes. We also always recommend trying anal relaxers. Despite their name, anal relaxers are perfectly safe to use vaginally as well. They use natural ingredients to gently relax the muscles of your vagina (or anus), making penetration much smoother. Make sure you use a relaxer and not anything with numbing agents. Numbing agents can cause serious harm, since they make it nearly impossible to tell if you’ve been injured.

Whatever you do, just try to take things slow and listen to your body. More foreplay and clitoral stimulation can work wonders for relaxing your pelvic muscles and increasing natural lubrication.

If sex is too painful and you’ve tried lube and extra foreplay, there are plenty of other options to keep yourself sexually pleasured and active. Vibrators are a big go-to for people who experience pain with penetration. This allows you to satisfy your needs through clitoral stimulation and can also be used with a partner for extra intimate moments.

And lastly, if your genital area is nearly off-limits due to the pain and discomfort, there are always nipple suckers and other nipple stimulants like sensation gels. In fact, a study was done that discovered 12% of people with vulvas could achieve orgasm due to stimulation away from the genital area!