6/3/10
Dear Dr. Kate – Sex Starts Out Fine But Then Becomes Painful

photo by Gabriel Delgado

Dr. Kate is an OB/GYN at one of the largest teaching hospitals in New York City and she answers your medical questions here once a week. To ask her your own question, click here.

Dear Dr. Kate,

Okay, well here it goes. I really like sex. But my vagina doesn’t, I guess that is how I can put it. Sometimes in the middle of sex I just get really dry all of a sudden and it starts hurting a lot. Or, when I have a little orgasm (and I mean just two to three minutes into sex I get off from my clit or something else), my vagina starts to hurt. Not on the inside, like I got poked too hard or anything, it starts to get sore and burn a little on the inside of just the lips, and only when I try to continue to get off again.

Also, I am only 22 years old, should I be getting off that fast? And how come my vajajay doesn’t want to keep going after a tiny orgasm? I have been tested for STDs and I am clean, and I have tried a couple different types of condoms, thinking it’s that, but it still happens. What do you think could be wrong with my vajayajy?

— Love Hurts

Dear L.H.,

I don’t think anything is wrong with your vagina — I think she’s just having a tough time keeping up with you! If intercourse starts out okay, and becomes painful after a while, I think you’re losing your lubrication. Sometimes our natural lubrication doesn’t last as long as intercourse — it doesn’t mean that you’re not aroused, or that you don’t want to continue, it’s just a mismatch between moisture and timing. A little supplementation can do wonders — either use lube at the start of sex, or once things become uncomfortable, take a break and apply some lube. The only other thing to try is a polyurethane condom, in case you’re having a reaction to latex condoms. As for how fast you get off: yay for orgasms, especially fast ones! There’s nothing wrong with climaxing quickly.

— Dr. Kate
Gynotalk
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Dr. Kate is an OB/GYN at one of the largest teaching hospitals in New York City. She also lectures nationally on women’s health issues and conducts research on reproductive health. Check out more of her advice and ask her a question at Gynotalk.com.



2 Comments

  1. I definitely think that latex could be the culprit. I had/have similar symptoms every time I’ve tried to use a latex condom

  2. Thank you for suggesting the polyurethane alternative to latex (polyisoprene is another new non-latex material to consider). Sensitivity to latex seems to be becoming more prevalent, and I don’t think enough thought is given to this when women experience sexual discomforts. As an example, when complaining (many years ago) to my gynecologist of always developing infections after protected sex, her advice was simply to wash better afterwards; I had to put 2 & 2 together myself, when I realized I was also getting infections after every visit to the gyno–the common element was latex, in the condoms and the gloves. Thank heavens there is greater availability of non-latex condom (and glove!) alternatives these days.

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