Aunt Vadge: pains in clitoris, vagina and labia after rough sex three months ago

Woman looking sadly at a calendar because her sex pain has lasted for three months.

TL;DR

Experiencing pain in the clitoris, labia, or vagina after rough sex can be alarming, potentially indicating tissue or nerve damage. Aunt Vadge advises seeking a gynaecologist’s evaluation to understand the cause and find relief. The article discusses the importance of recognizing the body’s pain response and the role of specialists in managing lingering pain, emphasizing the need for a thorough examination to diagnose and treat the discomfort properly.

Dear Aunt Vadge,

I have had bad burning pain in left inner labia, entrance to vagina, urethra and a sharp pain in my clitoris after very rough sex three months ago.

Could this have caused serious nerve or tissue damage? How can I help it to heal?

Sincerely,
In Pain
Age 37
Country: Ireland

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Dear In Pain,

It sounds like something has gone awry, though how serious it is will require an in-person visit to a doctor. Whether that is nerve or tissue damage is impossible to say without examining you and taking a detailed history.

Visit your gynaecologist, be examined, and get further advice.

Rough sex and its after-effects

Rough sex can cause trauma to tissue, and take a little while to fully heal, but you can be left with remaining pain if the trauma triggered off your pain response.

This may require a pain specialist, but you can always make an appointment initially with a gynaecologist, pelvic physiotherapist or osteopath who can point you in the right direction.

Our pain response

Sometimes lingering pain is not caused by actual damage, but to your body’s response to the initial damage. Vulvar/vaginal pain can fall into this category, where your body’s response to the initial injury means it keeps the pain going ‘in fear’.

This isn’t to say your pain is all in your head! But, that our physiological response to trauma, especially of our very delicate parts, can come with secondary effects that can linger.

These effects can be managed and treated, but the longer they go on and the more you worry about this pain, the worse it can get. Choose your doctor carefully, and perhaps get a recommendation from a pelvic physiotherapist, who will know the best people to help you.

You need a full examination before any diagnosis can be made.

Best,
Aunt Vadge



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