pain during sex

[starry3yedgrl.livejournal.com]

I've been experiencing pain during sex and I am not sure what it could be from.  Years ago I had this problem and it went undiagnosed for about a year.  Finally my doctor told me to go off my birth control pills, and low and behold, it worked.  He said something about them can cause extreme vaginal dryness for some women, even with extra lubrication.

I hated any other kind of non-hormonal birth control and anything hormonal gave me the same problem, so then I thought maybe it was the estrogen, so I asked to go on progestin only.  I have been on these for about 4.5 years now, and it's just been the last four to six months that I have been feeling this pain.  And it's not as intense as it was before.....back then the pain prohibited me from even having sex, using tampons, exams were very painful etc.  But now the pain is just....it hurts, but not enough from attempting to have a normal sex life.  And afterward the inner labia area feels sore and when I pee the urine going over that area kinda stings and burns.  It remains sore for about 15-20 minutes and then I'm fine.

So I'm really confused because nothing seems to make sense.  Why would my pills all of a sudden cause this pain when they have been fine for several years?  I have been with my boyfriend for a year and a half and the pain just recently started a few months ago.  I know the "angle" of my vaginal canal must be kind of strange because we cannot comfortable do doggy style, we never have been able to.  It's either very painful or he keeps slipping out due to the angle he needs to be at.  But missionary and me being on top used to be fine but now its not.  Me being on top feels better if I kind of lean down and lay on top of him, but when I sit up it hurts more....which again leads me to believe that it's the angle we are at that is making it hurt, but that used to never hurt.   When I masterbated for the first time in a while a few weeks ago I didn't really experience the pain, which again makes me think that I know what angle to insert it at, where as he is a little more clueless.....granted the vibrator is a little smaller in circumfrance than my boyfriend is but not by much, but why would he all of a sudden not be able to enter me like he used to without it hurting? 

It's been about a year since I had an STI screening but everything came back fine.  I am due for a pap smear next month probably but until then I was wondering if anyone has any idea what could be causing this pain.  Thanks

Comments

[analogwatch.livejournal.com]

It's possible you could have a symptomless infection of BV or maybe a yeast infection (once again, symptomless). Those can aggravate the ladybits and make sex very painful. I'd suggest calling your doctor and at least asking.

[starry3yedgrl.livejournal.com]

Is it possible to have some kind of symptomless infection for months on end? I mean, left untreated I can see that they could, but wouldn't some symptoms eventually appear (although I guess painful sex would be a symptom, ha).

I said in my post that the pain usually goes away within 20 minutes or so but today it lasted quite a while longer (though the pain during sex actually wasn't as bad as it usually is) and hours later when I peed again, the sting was surprisingly still there. It's ok now (about 12 hours later) but I am thinking an infection makes the most sense because the area definitely feels inflamed and irritated and sore. Thanks!

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

Are you using lube when you have sex??

[starry3yedgrl.livejournal.com]

Today we didn't, but we usually use astroglide and I still have the pain. Even today though my boyfriend said I felt plenty lubricated and he entered me just fine...like he said it didn't feel like it was too dry or anything.

[dc-addict.livejournal.com]

this is a little embarrassing, but - i have the same problem, almost to a t. i have been with my boyfriend almost a year and a half, but sex didn't hurt until a few months ago. now, the lube doesn't quite do the trick either. i went to the doctor, and it seems i'm getting fissures with sex - which has a ton to do with being on birth control. i doubt there's anything wrong. i just got a prescription for an estrogen cream - at the ripe age of 21! it's embarrassing that i seem to need it at such a young age, but i think it's because i've been on birth control for almost five years (started for acne, not the sex :) ). so, that's just an idea to bring up wth your doctor- because it does actually seem to work.
also, because you have been in pain recently, your vaginal muscles may be tensing up involuntarily, which makes it harder and more painful for your guy to enter. apparently, i developed that problem to the point that the speculum had trouble going in! still figuring out how to get rid of THAT problem.. :/