Dyspareunia is a condition that can make sexual intercourse very painful. There are many possible causes of dyspareunia, including infection, skin conditions, and psychological issues. While there is no one-size-fits-all cure for dyspareunia, some people find that using essential oils can help.
In this article, we will talk about dyspareunia and explore the use of essential oils as a treatment.
Table of Contents
Can Essential Oils Help With Dyspareunia?
The short answer is… essential oils can be used as an (indirect) natural alternative treatment to Dyspareunia.
Research shows some essential oils work as aphrodisiacs by triggering erection in men and arousal in women. Although we cannot say that essential oil is actual aphrodisiacs, there are some properties of essential oils that can be linked to a more positive sexual experience.
- Sage – decreases stress hormones when used as an essential oil
- Lavender – decreases anxiety and stress
- Sandalwood – increases mood and higher levels of desire
- Ylang ylang – associated with feelings of euphoria
- Carpolobia- said to boost sexual performance
- Eurycoma longifolia- said to boost sexual performance
- Ginseng- said to boost sexual performance
What Is Dyspareunia?
Dyspareunia is characterized by pain in the genital area during or after sexual intercourse. The pain felt can either be intense or sharp. It may happen before, during, or after sex. It is more common in women than in men. It has many possible causes, but it can be treated.
Causes of Dyspareunia differ, depending on where the pain occurs:
Entry pain
- Not enough lubrication
- Injury, trauma or irritation
- Inflammation, infection or skin disorder
- Vaginismus
- Dryness and thin tissue due to menopause (genitourinary syndrome of menopause)
Deep pain
- Certain illnesses and conditions (endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine prolapse, retroverted uterus, uterine fibroids, cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic floor dysfunction, adenomyosis, hemorrhoids and ovarian cysts)
- Surgeries or medical treatments (hysterectomy, chemotherapy, radiation etc)
Emotional factors
- Psychological issues
- Stress
- History of sexual abuse
Symptoms of Dyspareunia
The pain experienced from Dyspareunia can vary from minor discomfort to intense pain. The pain may occur in the vagina, urethra, or bladder.
The pain can also occur during sexual intercourse or after sexual intercourse. Sometimes a mother can experience pain-free sexual intercourse only for her to start experiencing pain a few minutes after the intercourse.
You can also feel an acute pain comparable to menstrual cramps. Dyspareunia is common in women, but men can also experience pain in the genitalia during or after sexual intercourse.
How To Check if You Have Dyspareunia
If you have been experiencing pain in your genital area during or after sex, you need to see a doctor so that they can carry out several tests to confirm if you have Dyspareunia. You will have to provide your medical and sexual history to your doctor.
The doctor, after asking you several questions regarding the location of the pain or any other activities that cause them pain, will conduct a pelvic examination. During the pelvic examination, the doctor will check the external and internal pelvic area for signs of Dyspareunia.
The doctor will look for signs during the external examination, including dryness, inflammation, endometriosis, scarring, infection, genital warts, abnormal masses, and tenderness. When conducting an internal examination, the doctor will use a speculum to view the vagina during the Pap test.
The doctor might also take a few samples from your vagina using cotton swabs. You might also undergo a culture, urine, allergy, or pelvic ultrasound test.
After conducting all the tests necessary and the doctor determines that you are suffering from Dyspareunia, they will write you a prescription for the necessary medication.
Treating Dyspareunia
The doctor will prescribe a particular treatment depending on the cause of the pain. If an infection causes pain, you will be given antibiotics, antifungal medicines, or topical or injectable corticosteroids. If the pain is caused by vaginal dryness, you will be given alternative medications that can restore natural lubrication.
You can also use some home care remedies to treat Dyspareunia. You can use lubricants during sex, avoid having sex when not sufficiently aroused, be open to your partner about the pain, take a warm bath before sex, use over-the-counter pain medication to relieve the pain, and place an ice pack on the vulva after sex if you experience the pain.
Preventing Dyspareunia
If you had Dyspareunia and the medical or home remedies cured it, you need to take certain steps to ensure it doesn’t recur.
Use a water-soluble lubricant if you continue experiencing vaginal dryness. Encourage natural lubrication by taking enough for foreplay to ensure sufficient arousal.
If you have low libido due to anxiety or depression, you should seek treatment for the depression as soon as possible.
Manage Dyspareunia
If you do not get help as soon as the symptoms appear, you risk developing major depression.
You can use essential oils to ease the symptoms as you seek medical intervention. If depression or anxiety causes you to have Dyspareunia, you should seek medical attention to ensure you stop the pain during and after sex.
