If sex is painful for you, you’re not alone. Up to as many as 60% of women in the US report pain during sex. And not just in menopause; many in their 20s and 30s say sex hurts. Centuries of stigma keep doctors from asking about it, and many women think it’s just normal or are too embarrassed to ask. In large study, 60% of women who sought medical care had to see 3+ doctors to get a diagnosis. Most were told it’s normal, it's just stress, try more lube or drink a bottle of wine - with no further evaluation. As a result most women suffer silently, assuming something is wrong with them. And the more we experience pain with sex, the more anticipatory anxiety, shame, a sense of being broken, embarrassment, self-doubt, or relationship stress we experience. Bottom line, it’s not just something you have to accept as normal, grin and bear, or forego sex because of. There are root causes that can be healed including: 🌸Endometriosis 🌸Interstitial cystitis 🌸Vaginitis 🌸Vaginismus, painful vaginal spasms 🌸Pelvic floor dysfunction 🌸IBS 🌸Vulvodynia 🌸Uterine fibroids 🌸And so much more! So here's what you can do- 🔥 Know it’s not YOU, don’t blame yourself 🔥 Speak up and keep seeking until you find a practitioner who will listen; you may have more success with a CNM or NP, especially a woman 🔥 Address root causes through a holistic approach - from a low inflammation diet to healing IBS to pelvic floor physical therapy to EMDR and other trauma healing - there are solutions that I explore more in my book, Hormone Intelligence. And in the meanwhile, you can: 🔥 Talk to your partner about where and when you feel pain, and what activities you find pleasurable 🔥 Try activities/positions that don’t cause pain 🔥 Before sex, empty your bladder or take a warm bath 🔥 After, apply ice or a frozen gel pack wrapped in a small towel to the vulva 🔥 Use the OhNut device if pain is with penetration And check out my book Hormone Intelligence for a plan to help you find more ease - and pleasure - in your body and your life.