Do you experience pain during intercourse? Does the pain limit your ability to enjoy sex? Or perhaps prevent you from having sex at all? It can be a frustrating and emotional experience for you and your partner. Your inability to enjoy sex may strain your relationship and create emotional stress.

Some of the most common causes of vaginal pain are related to injuries or traumatic experiences like difficult childbirth. However, it's also common for women to experience pain even with no obvious reason. Fortunately, in many cases, the cause can be identified and the pain can be addressed with a simple solution. Below are three of the most common reasons why women experience pain during sex. If it's an ongoing issue for you, it may also be helpful to speak with your gynecologist.

Lack of lubrication. Your body creates natural lubrication to ease the intercourse process. Without sufficient lubrication, penetration may feel irritating and even painful. There is a wide range of reasons why you may not have enough lubrication. The most common is that you simply aren't aroused. However, lubrication can also drop after menopause and childbirth. There are also many medications, like antidepressants and blood pressure prescriptions, that can cause your body to produce less lubrication. Try applying lubrication during the lead-up to intercourse to see if it reduces your pain.

Yeast infection. Is the pain accompanied by an intense itching sensation? If so, the culprit is likely a yeast infection, which can be caused by many different issues. Antibiotics often lead to yeast infections. The good news is that this is one of the easiest issues to address. An over-the-counter topical cream should eliminate the infection. If it doesn't clear up after using a cream, see your gynecologist.

Tightness. Does it feel like your partner's penis won't fit in your vagina? Is his penis hitting your cervix? It's probably not because he's too big. When a woman becomes aroused, her vagina balloons in preparation for intercourse. It's possible that isn't happening. The most obvious reason is that you aren't aroused, thus the ballooning process isn't happening. You may want to try more foreplay. If that doesn't help, you may need to see your gynecologist.

Clamping. Does your vagina tighten as penetration begins? Some women experience involuntary muscle cramping prior to intercourse. The cause is a bit of a mystery and seems to vary by woman. In some cases, this can be treated with medication. In other cases, the cause may be rooted in a deep fear of sexual activity, and therapy could be a good solution.  Lubrication and extended foreplay may also be helpful.

It's always a good idea to discuss sexual issues with a gynecologist like George L Stankevych, MD. They can identify the specific cause and recommend a course of action.