On Thursday, millions of women across the world had sex that they were ‘dreading’, because it was Valentine’s Day.
The day that is supposed to be a celebration of love can, for many women, mean pressure to put on uncomfortable underwear and have sex with their partner even if they’re not in the mood.
Researchers for Vagisil spoke to 2,000 women between the ages of 40 and 61 found that 10% of them were worried about having to have Valentine’s Day sex.
Assuming their sample was representative, that means millions of women around the world were dreading V-Day sex.
One of the major causes of painful or uncomfortable sex is vaginal dryness, something which over half of women over the age of 40 experience in their lifetime.
The study then asked women how vaginal dryness affects their sex life. 52% said they felt like they’d let their partner down, and 33% felt their partners were frustrated with them. 25% of women said that they had made up an excuse to avoid sex, and 24% said that they had sex anyway, ‘suffering in silence’ and just hoping it would get better.
It should go without saying, but no-one should ever feel obliged to have sex. Whether you’re married, dating or friends with benefits, you don’t owe anyone access to your body.
Especially if a condition such as vaginal dryness makes is uncomfortable. If you are struggling with uncomfortable or painful sex then there are steps that you can take to alleviate the discomfort.
In the first instance, bringing lube into the bedroom is a quick and easy step. If you’re using a condom then you should avoid silicon-based lubricants which can cause condoms to break.
We like liquid silk, but Durex is also good and easy to find in most branches of Superdrug or Boots. Extended foreplay with lots of lubricant can also help you to relax and enjoy sex.
In fact, if sex is uncomfortable then you can replace penetrative sex with foreplay and bring each other to orgasm without actually having sex.
If sex continues to be painful, you should visit your GP. Painful sex can be a result o of dryness or stress, but it can also suggest underlying gynecological issues and so it’s better to be on the safe side.