Painful sex after menopause is common and treatable, from the Harvard Women’s Health Watch
Painful intercourse has many possible causes, including hormonal changes, medical and nerve conditions, skin diseases, and emotional problems such as anxiety and depression. Often, several are at work. The decline in estrogen production at menopause can thin vaginal tissue, resulting in dryness, burning, and pain. Another culprit is vestibulodynia, a chronic pain syndrome that causes discomfort with any kind of touch or pressure in the area around the vagina. Psychological factors may be involved, especially in women who associate the vaginal area with fear or injury.
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