9 ways to make sex less painful

Feeling some sort of physical pain during intercourse is incredibly common — according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, nearly three out of four women experience painful sex at some point in their lives.

Though it might make you feel slightly better to know you're not alone, this fact likely offers little comfort when you're in the middle of a sexual encounter and things just aren't feeling right. Whether you're dealing with muscle aches due to a position that doesn't work for your body, irritation or burning on your skin, or a gynecologic condition like vaginismus or vulvodynia, there are definitely ways to help ease your pain so you can enjoy the pain-free, happy sex you deserve.

Here are nine ways you can make sex less painful.

1. Take things slowly — very slowly.

Some people can just go right into sex as soon as the opportunity presents itself, but others require lots of foreplay before they're ready to go. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, but if you start having sex before you're adequately turned on, you might feel pain, especially when it comes to penis in vagina intercourse.

"Many women think that if they feel excited, then they're ready for sex," Debby Herbenick, Ph.D., associate director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University, told Women's Health magazine in 2014. "But your body needs time to lift the uterus and make room for the vagina to expand. The latter can stretch from four inches long to a fully aroused seven inches."

Quickies are great under the right circumstances, but if you rush into the main attraction without enjoying some previews before the show, you might feel pain, soreness, or irritation down below, so be sure to slow things down as needed. Herbenick recommended 20 minutes of foreplay to adequately prepare your body.

2. Be sure you're using enough lubrication.

Although you still need to be sure that your body is ready for sex before your partner enters you, vaginal dryness can occur even if you're fully ready to go. This is where lube comes in, so you'll want to snag a silicone- or water-based lubricant, particularly one without harsh chemicals or fragrances so that you won't risk irritating your genitals or skin.

There are no shortage of great lubricants for sex out there, but after you've found the one that works for you, you might want to look into the reason you're feeling dry down below. Dryness can be caused by a slew of medications, including birth control pills, allergy medications, antidepressants, and even over-the-counter cold medicines, as well as soaps, and even smoking cigarettes, so check with your doctor.

Everyday Health also noted that vaginal dryness can happen due to a drop in estrogen levels, which happens at certain points of your menstrual cycle, if you've recently given birth, are breastfeeding, or are going through menopause.

Also, if you're bathing in hot water pre-sex, you could be inadvertently drying out vaginal tissue. Checking with your doctor about any discomfort due to dryness is always the best option.

3. Check for allergies or other health conditions.

If you're feeling itchiness, burning, or irritation down below, you could be dealing with a number of health issues, so you'll want to check with your doctor.

An itchy rash or hives can be symptoms of a latex allergy, as can vaginal irritation or burning. As Jonathan Schaffir, M.D., an OB-GYN at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told SELF magazine in 2016, "it is also possible to have a more severe form of allergy that leads to anaphylaxis, which involves system-wide swelling, dropping blood pressure, and difficulty breathing. That would be rare, but needs immediate medical attention."

But acute reactions aside, latex allergies aren't a huge deal, and you can safely switch to polyurethane condoms without issue. Still, pain, itchiness or irritation can be signs of other health conditions, including a yeast infection, STIs, vaginismus, vulvodynia, or an ovarian cyst, so paying a visit to your doctor is never a bad idea.