Sex & Romance
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When does sex start to feel good?

I feel like a little kid asking this, but when does sex start to feel good? I waited to have sex until I was married. I got married three weeks ago and sex still hurts for me. We haven't had sex every day, but often enough. My husband has been so understanding and is trying his best to help try and make it hurt less by trying different positions, etc. But it always hurts, at least at first or it will have a sort of burning sensation inside during sex. I just want to hear from other women to know if this experience is normal.. Should I make an appointment to see my doctor and talk to her about this? Thanks in advance!

PS. I am on a low dose birth control pill...I heard that might affect it. Any experience with that?

Re: When does sex start to feel good?

  • Are you getting enough foreplay and using lube?
  • It only hurt for me the first 3 or 4 times. I've never experienced a burning sensation. I agree with PP, are you using lube and getting enough foreplay? Try not to rush into sex, just take your time. Also, don't be tense, relax your muscles.
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  • Sounds like you need some lubricant.
    image
  • Get some good lube (astroglide, ky, etc.) that, along with lots of foreplay will help things along for you and ease (or eliminate the pain).

    Birth control pills can have a drying effect, try the lube and extra foreplay if those don't work then you may have to talk to your doctor about switching BC. 

  • And if you are using lube, try a different one.  The burning sensation may be a mild allergy to the lube.
    image
  • I would try more foreplay and lots of more.  Sex can hurt anyone if you aren't probably warmed up and not well lubed. 
    image
  • I agree with everyone else, try using lube or a different lube. But whenever it hurt for me and I wasn't using lube, it wasnt a burning sensation. I DID have a burning sensation after sex when i realize I was allergic to latex :/ If you try a different lube and it still burns, I'd definitely recommend going to your doctor.
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  • Have you ever had an orgasm?  Alone or with your partner?  

    Foreplay is critical to sexual enjoyment.  The vagina doesn't just stay ready for sex all the time.  When foreplay starts, there are clear physiological changes that occur to a woman's genitalia...natural lubricant is produced, the vaginal walls expand and swell -- everything gets prepared for intercourse.  If you are rushing to penetration, your body may not have caught up.  If that is the case, the friction caused by penetration can result in microtears of the vaginal wall and the next time you have sex, those tears may get irritated again.

    So, what to do?  First, put necking and petting back on the menu.  You may think of those things as "teenagerish", but they are important to send the message to your body that sex is going to happen.  Perhaps you could initiate sex on the couch, start with necking and teasing, keeping him from moving to intercourse right away.  Make it a game.

    Then, move to oral sex.  If your husband will not go down on you, you need to have a serious "Come to my Pus$y" talk with him.  Oral stimulation is fabulous when done right.  In fact, you guys should be striving for an orgasm for you BEFORE any intercourse occurs.  If you have an orgasm, your body will be lubed and excited and ready for action.  If he balks at the smell or taste, offer to freshen up before sex, but oral (both ways) should be on the menu most times.  

    Stop thinking about what you see in Hollywood movies or porn...it is unlikely that you will have simultaneous orgasms based on penile penetration alone (while holding hands in a soft focus room) and normal women usually can't take the 45 minute pounding that a porn star seems to take (remember, she takes breaks and more artificial lube is added).  Real people sex is sometimes awkward and frequently involves directions.  "Harder", "over to the right" and "Oh yes!  That's the spot!" as important things to say to your partner.  We have not perfected sexual mind melds yet, so if you don't tell your partner what is working (or not), you guys can't get to a state of sexual understanding. 

  • It hurt for me for about a month after I got married. Not burning or anything like that, just painful/sore. Like my body wasn't familiar with it yet. We used lots of lube, but it still took some time. We're great now though!  I'd say give it some more time, use lots of lube, and if it's a burning sensation you should probably see your doctor.
  • I agree with the PP.   It only was uncomfortable the first few times for me.  Are you relaxing??  If you are still worrying about sex itself or psyching yourself up for it to hurt - you're body's not going to be ready for sex.    

     Play around with different lube, make sure there's lots of foreplay, starting thinking about having sex way before you are even in the bedroom, and experiment with oral sex -   that always gets my body self lubricating.   I get excited giving it as well as receiving. 

    Don't quit trying - you're way to new to this to give up and not look forward to it! 

    If nothing helps - go to the Doctor and make sure it's not a physical problem.   

    5 failed clomid/femara cycles led to injects and IUI = BFP December 2011! Enjoying life with Owen Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  •    As previously stated, lube.If currently scruffy when it's not swim suit season. Give everything a smooth sugaring, waxing or shave all around your vagina. The hair can be scratchy an irritating to tender tissue.

       

  • imageDaringMiss:

    Have you ever had an orgasm?  Alone or with your partner?  

    Foreplay is critical to sexual enjoyment.  The vagina doesn't just stay ready for sex all the time.  When foreplay starts, there are clear physiological changes that occur to a woman's genitalia...natural lubricant is produced, the vaginal walls expand and swell -- everything gets prepared for intercourse.  If you are rushing to penetration, your body may not have caught up.  If that is the case, the friction caused by penetration can result in microtears of the vaginal wall and the next time you have sex, those tears may get irritated again.

    So, what to do?  First, put necking and petting back on the menu.  You may think of those things as "teenagerish", but they are important to send the message to your body that sex is going to happen.  Perhaps you could initiate sex on the couch, start with necking and teasing, keeping him from moving to intercourse right away.  Make it a game.

    Then, move to oral sex.  If your husband will not go down on you, you need to have a serious "Come to my Pus$y" talk with him.  Oral stimulation is fabulous when done right.  In fact, you guys should be striving for an orgasm for you BEFORE any intercourse occurs.  If you have an orgasm, your body will be lubed and excited and ready for action.  If he balks at the smell or taste, offer to freshen up before sex, but oral (both ways) should be on the menu most times.  

    Stop thinking about what you see in Hollywood movies or porn...it is unlikely that you will have simultaneous orgasms based on penile penetration alone (while holding hands in a soft focus room) and normal women usually can't take the 45 minute pounding that a porn star seems to take (remember, she takes breaks and more artificial lube is added).  Real people sex is sometimes awkward and frequently involves directions.  "Harder", "over to the right" and "Oh yes!  That's the spot!" as important things to say to your partner.  We have not perfected sexual mind melds yet, so if you don't tell your partner what is working (or not), you guys can't get to a state of sexual understanding. 

    I agree with everything in this post except for the bold part.  If you both WANT to have oral sex, then go for it.  But if even one of you is uncomfortable with it, the other should not be pressured into doing it.  That is something the two of you need to figure out together, so communication (as this post stated in the last paragraph) is key.

    "You're the L and the V, I'm the O and the E...Am I speaking clearly?"
  • imagejonigringa:
    imageDaringMiss:

    Have you ever had an orgasm?  Alone or with your partner?  

    Foreplay is critical to sexual enjoyment.  The vagina doesn't just stay ready for sex all the time.  When foreplay starts, there are clear physiological changes that occur to a woman's genitalia...natural lubricant is produced, the vaginal walls expand and swell -- everything gets prepared for intercourse.  If you are rushing to penetration, your body may not have caught up.  If that is the case, the friction caused by penetration can result in microtears of the vaginal wall and the next time you have sex, those tears may get irritated again.

    So, what to do?  First, put necking and petting back on the menu.  You may think of those things as "teenagerish", but they are important to send the message to your body that sex is going to happen.  Perhaps you could initiate sex on the couch, start with necking and teasing, keeping him from moving to intercourse right away.  Make it a game.

    Then, move to oral sex.  If your husband will not go down on you, you need to have a serious "Come to my Pus$y" talk with him.  Oral stimulation is fabulous when done right.  In fact, you guys should be striving for an orgasm for you BEFORE any intercourse occurs.  If you have an orgasm, your body will be lubed and excited and ready for action.  If he balks at the smell or taste, offer to freshen up before sex, but oral (both ways) should be on the menu most times.  

    Stop thinking about what you see in Hollywood movies or porn...it is unlikely that you will have simultaneous orgasms based on penile penetration alone (while holding hands in a soft focus room) and normal women usually can't take the 45 minute pounding that a porn star seems to take (remember, she takes breaks and more artificial lube is added).  Real people sex is sometimes awkward and frequently involves directions.  "Harder", "over to the right" and "Oh yes!  That's the spot!" as important things to say to your partner.  We have not perfected sexual mind melds yet, so if you don't tell your partner what is working (or not), you guys can't get to a state of sexual understanding. 

    I agree with everything in this post except for the bold part.  If you both WANT to have oral sex, then go for it.  But if even one of you is uncomfortable with it, the other should not be pressured into doing it.  That is something the two of you need to figure out together, so communication (as this post stated in the last paragraph) is key.

    Post marriage is a little late to be figuring out if your partner is not going to be giving/receiving oral sex. I'm not saying anyone has to do anything they don't want, but neither does the partner have to live with an oral-less marriage.

  • I've had what I have also described as a "burning sensation" during sex.  Assuming it's nothing medical, I would say it's likely lack of lube/arousal, as other posters have said.  Try many different kinds of lube.  Some sex stores have sample sizes that would allow you to try many kinds to find what you like, without having to buy a whole bottle.  Good luck!  It will be worth it!
    image
    Once upon a time, there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.
  • Just relax and make sure there is a lot of foreplay.
    image

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  • I am in the same boat! Even to the point I wasn't looking forward to sex and we've only been married 2 months today! So I went to a 21+ store with my husband and we got lots of lube and a couple different sized vibrators for me to work my way up. I guess it just takes practice... but seriously, marriage is designed to last a lifetime, so why not invest a lot of time for practice/experience and make it amazing??
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  • ***Coming out of lurking***

    I've been married for a year and a half, and I have the exact same issue.  It really sucks.  I've had multiple convos with my dr about it, and she confirms what pps are telling you--make sure you make time for foreplay, and use a lube--not the frilly tingling or warming ones, either, just a regular lube.  If you are tense at all (and it's hard to NOT be tense in this situation), you need to just tell your H to slow down, take some deep breaths, and try to relax as much as possible.

    Trying different positions is very smart, and it's good for your H too--we've finally found a position that works best for me and is the least painful.

    My dr told me that my birth control is definitely the culprit, but a yeast infection could also be causing the burning feeling.  If you haven't already done so, go see your dr and get it checked out.  If your dr feels confident it's the hormones in the BC, then you either just figure out how to best deal with it or you can look into other BC methods.

    Good luck, and feel free to PM me if you need more info.

  • WWeaver, I really think your doctor is wrong. I think you and the original poster both have forms of vaginismus and I wish doctors would be more informed about this stuff. Birth control doesn't cause painful sex. It's really common for women who have waited until marriage to have sex to experience vaginismus because of all the negative connections and deeply held beliefs that can be held about it. I would advise you to both get yourselves over to vaginismus.com and get on the program there and get the painless sex you deserve. It took me exactly two months to complete the program from start to finish and painful sex is a thing of the past.
  • WWeaver, I really think your doctor is wrong. I think you and the original poster both have forms of vaginismus and I wish doctors would be more informed about this stuff. Birth control doesn't cause painful sex. It's really common for women who have waited until marriage to have sex to experience vaginismus because of all the negative connections and deeply held beliefs that can be held about it. I would advise you to both get yourselves over to vaginismus.com and get on the program there and get the painless sex you deserve. It took me exactly two months to complete the program from start to finish and painful sex is a thing of the past.
  • Nope, it was definitely certain types of BC that was causing burning for me, so it cannot be completely ruled out. Although I agree with PP that it could be that OP is new to sex and may not be relaxed, etc.

    I was not new to sex when I discovered a lot of difficulty with hormones -- I took them for years in fact, and then suddenly my boday changed and I can no longer tolerate them. The burning during sex was only one of the many negative side effects... lack of sex drive and lubrication were some of the others.

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • It does sound like you have a lubricating issue.  It took me about 3 or 4 times before it was not hurting too much.  Personally, as long as I am turned on enough (foreplay) I am ready to go! We do not use lube because I just do not think that is healthy (I am sure it is but it's just a mental thing).  If it continues I would definitely see a doctor. You need to go anyways since your husband is your first and only just to make sure things are going well!
  • I was on ortho tri cyclen lo and had the same symptoms, i switched to the reg dose and things are fine, just decreased sex drive a little, this can be worked on between you and DH though, I just take a little longer to get going. LOL
  • Use a good LIQUID lubricant. After we had the baby, I needed lube for the first time and jelly didn't help but using liquid made a HUGE difference.

    Lots and lots of foreplay.

    If that doesn't help, I'd check in with your gyn and make sure nothing is wrong. Especially because of the burning sensation.

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • Some women are sensitive to seamen as well. So, if you are not using condoms, you might try using one and see if that makes a difference.
  • It's worth going to the doctor! I have vaginismus which means sex is painful for me. I got married six months ago and after two months I saw my doctor and she told me I have vaginismus. After doing some of the techniques like using a dilator, LOTS of lube and certain exercises sex is getting less painful I'm really hopeful that soon it will be pain free. Just throwing my two cents in.

  • I agree!! Family doctors are not as qualified in my opinion to completly diagnose the reasons 4 painful intercourse. I have a disorder that took years to diagnose, it wasnt until i visited the gyno that i finally got the answer. Now its fine! But very important because some conditions if left untreated can lead to problems concieving!
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