Is sex painful the first time?

When woman are having vaginal sex for the first time it can be a little painful. Having sex for the first time may also cause some bleeding, but this might not always be the case. If vaginal bleeding occurs when you have sex for the first time it may be because of the hymen breaking during vaginal intercourse.

For a man, having sex for the first time shouldn’t hurt, however you can make it easier by making sure there is plenty of lubrication and by being gentle, and going slow.

Is anal sex painful?

Anal sex can be painful for men and women for the first time, and there may even be some bleeding.

There are things that you can do to help reduce pain, this includes slowing penetration down and using a lot of water-based lubricant or specifically formulated anal lubricant. 

You can even warm up your anus by slowly inserting your fingers into it. This will help make anal sex easier.

Why is sex painful?

Pain during sex can be quite common and can affect men and women. It can be caused by a variety of things including illness or infection, and even a physical or psychological problem.

Sex can be uncomfortable if you are not relaxed or even aroused. You should make time to foreplay with your partner, and try not to think of penetrative sex as the main goal. Sexual penetration can be painful if you do not lubricate the vagina properly, and this can be done by using water-based lubricant or natural arousal.

If you are still finding it difficult to have sex then there could be emotional reasons, or anxiety could be causing problems. It may help you to speak to a sex therapist or a GP about any worries that you may have.

Some STIs and common infections like thrust and cystitis can also cause pain during sexual intercourse. These can be easily treated with over the counter medicine. 

If you do have continuous pain during sexual intercourse then visit your GP or local sexual health clinic for more help.