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Is endometriosis making sex painful? You’re not alone. It’s a common problem for many women.
One in ten women in their reproductive years has endometriosis. And studies have found that about 79% of women with endo experience painful sex. That’s a lot of people!
And while there isn’t currently a cure for endometriosis, there are things you can do to manage the pain and symptoms.
Let’s explore the best sex positions for endometriosis. Because you deserve to feel more comfortable and enjoy sex!
Key Takeaways
- Over 60% of women with endometriosis say it affects their intimate relationships.
- Avoiding pressure on sensitive areas in the pelvis and trying certain positions can reduce endometriosis pain.
- The positions that women with endo experience the least pain are:
- Woman on top
- Spooning (sideways sex)
- Penetration from behind
- The sensate focus technique helps you focus on touch and pleasure. It offers a pain-free way to enjoy intimacy.
- A phallus length reducer can also help reduce discomfort from endometriosis pain during sex.
- Having open communication and understanding your partner is key. This is especially true when dealing with endo pain.
A Quick Look at Endometriosis
First, let’s recap what exactly endometriosis is.
It’s a condition where tissue similar to the inner uterine lining starts to grow in other places in your body. This endometrium can be on your ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, or in more far-off places like your bladder, rectum, or intestines.
Here are some common symptoms of endo:
- Pain that can get worse during your menstrual period, ovulation, or sexual activity
- Heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding
- Bloating or nausea
- Fatigue
- Fertility issues
Read more: Uncommon Symptoms of Endometriosis: Hidden Clues
We don’t know exactly why endometriosis happens or how to prevent it. But we do know that it’s possible to treat the symptoms with medicine and sometimes even surgery. The goal is to help you live a better life with the condition.
Why Does Sex Hurt with Endometriosis?
The pain you feel in your genital or pelvic area during sexual intercourse? That’s called dyspareunia.
Dyspareunia is common for women with endometriosis. And it can make things challenging. More than 60% of women say that endometriosis has made their sexual relationships harder.
This pain can feel be a sharp, stabbing, or burning feeling.
So why does it happen?
It’s mostly due to the different locations where endo tissue can grow. It can grow in:
- Uterus
- Fallopian tubes
- Rear vaginal wall
When the endometrial lesion is located behind the vagina, sex can be especially painful. In some cases, the tissue might even cause the vagina to adhere to the rectum. During penetration, the stretching or pulling of this irritated tissue can lead to serious discomfort.
But if the endometriosis tissue is somewhere else, like the ovaries, you might feel little to no pain during sex.
That said, if endometriosis is widespread and present in multiple areas, sex may be consistently painful regardless of the sexual position or depth.
Can Different Sexual Positions Help?
59% of women say they avoid sex because of the pain from endometriosis.
Endo can cause pain right when you start intercourse and also during deeper penetration. Some women with endo have even said that certain positions make the pain worse.
Why does the pain differ in different positions?
Because the endometriosis tissue can grow on sensitive areas. These include your cervix, bladder, and pelvic floor.
When there’s contact with these sensitive spots during penetration, it may cause pain.
But there’s good news! Studies show that many women have less pain in certain sex positions and by using specific techniques.
However, it’s important to remember that trying the best endometriosis sex positions won’t make you more fertile or boost your chances of getting pregnant. But they will make sexual activity more enjoyable and less painful.
Read more: Best Sex Positions to Get Pregnant– a Scientific Concept or Just a Myth?
What Positions are Best for Endometriosis?
Researchers have looked at what sexually active women with endo said about positions.
Here are some positions that they found to be more enjoyable.
1. Woman on top
This is one of the best sexual positions for endometriosis. That’s because it gives the woman more control of the depth of penetration.
When you’re on top, you can choose how deep your partner goes. This can help reduce endometriosis pain.
This also helps avoid putting too much pressure on your lower uterus or other sensitive areas.
2. Spooning/sideways sex
Many women with endometriosis have said they prefer their partner behind them and lying on their side during sex. This makes the pain less intense.
This is likely because there is less direct push on the pelvis. This sideways sex allows for shallow penetration and can be a good option for pain-free sex.
3. Vaginally from behind
Some women find that vaginal penetration with their partner behind them helps reduce pain from deeper penetration. The partner can be standing up or kneeling.
This position can help reduce pain. It offers a different angle and less direct pressure on areas where endometrial tissue may be.
This is a modified doggy style that offers more comfort than traditional doggy style.
4. Using a pillow
A lot of women also say that having intercourse with their hips raised using a pillow can help. Some prefer the missionary position with a pillow.
In missionary sex, using a pillow under your hips can change the angle and make it more comfortable.
Remember: these positions might not be helpful for everyone. Everybody is different. Also, the location of endometrial tissue growth varies from person to person. What feels good sexually for one woman might not for another.
It’s important to take the time to find what works for you and your specific needs to enjoy pain-free sex.
And consider using a silicone lubricant if you experience vaginal dryness. If you don’t have enough natural vaginal lubrication, vaginal dryness can contribute to painful intercourse.
Some women also find a pain reliever to help with temporary discomfort during or after sex.
What Else can Help Decrease Painful Sex with Endometriosis?
Trying out different sex positions is a great place to start to reduce the chances of pain.
There are also other things you can do to help you enjoy your sex life with endometriosis.
Sensate focus technique
This is an approach to sex that focuses on touch and feelings rather than penetrative sex.
The sensate focus technique was created in the 1960s by Dr. William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson. They came up with the concept to help couples facing problems like:
- Performance anxiety
- Erectile dysfunction
- Body image
But this technique can also be very helpful for couples dealing with endometriosis.
It focuses on touching and enjoying other parts of the body, not just the genitals. It can include sex and oral sex, but that’s not the primary focus. This technique can also include mutual masturbation as another way of intimacy without penetration.
By focusing more on foreplay and getting excited through sensual touch, you don’t need as much penetration.
This allows couples to keep vaginal sex to a comfortable level, making the painful part easier to manage.
Phallus length reducer
This is a tool your male partner can use. It goes over the partner’s penis and helps to make the penetration less deep.
A phallus length reducer acts like a soft buffer. This can help reduce discomfort and endometriosis pain during sex that comes from hitting deep areas in the pelvis.
Open communication
Talking openly and honestly with your partner about what feels good, what hurts, and what you need is key.
When partners understand and have compassion for each other, it goes a long way. Endometriosis can be managed, and having a good sex life is possible with effort and understanding.
It’s no secret that endo can make it harder to get pregnant and contribute to infertility. But conceiving with endometriosis is not impossible.
Read more: Your Guide to Getting Pregnant With Endometriosis
Sex toys
Bringing sex toys into the bedroom may help you find more pleasure and reduce pain. There is a lot of enjoyment to be had with toys that don’t focus primarily on penetration.
Talk to Your Doctor
Don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about an endometriosis report to understand your symptoms. Sometimes, dietary changes or hormonal therapies might be an option.
If you’re TTC, talk to your doctor about treatment options like hormone therapy or others they may suggest. It’s also a good idea to track your cycle using a fertility monitor like Inito. This can help you know when you’re most fertile, which can boost your chances of getting pregnant.
You may also want to look into finding a sex therapist who can offer guidance to both you and your partner. Many couples find success with sex therapy.
FAQs
Yes, many women with endometriosis can and do have sex.
By trying different sex positions, communicating with your partner, and trying other techniques, you can find ways to enjoy sexual intimacy with more comfort.
The key is to explore what feels comfortable for you. Talk openly with your partner and your healthcare provider about your symptoms and concerns.
Unfortunately, yes. Endometriosis often causes painful sex. About 79% of women with endo experience painful intercourse.
This pain can be described as sharp, stabbing, or burning. You might feel it:
- During deep penetration
- At the time of orgasm
- After sexual activity
This happens because the tissue that grows outside your uterus can be sensitive in areas like your cervix, bladder, and pelvic floor muscles.
When those areas are touched or pushed on during penetration, it can cause pain.
But there are ways to reduce endometriosis pain during sex and find more comfortable ways to be intimate.
For women with endo, any position that allows for deeper penetration can be painful. And doggy style is one of those.
This is because the angle of penetration in positions like this can lead to a more direct impact on areas where endometrial tissue may be growing.
Sensitive spots like the cervix or lower uterus, and the pelvic floor can be stretched more easily in this position. This can cause significant discomfort or a sharp, stabbing pain.
This is why some women find a modified doggy version of being on top is better. These positions allow you to control the depth of penetration.
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