Posting for my friend who has been struggling with something I’ve never heard of. My friend has been struggling with painful sex for years and no one knows why. Even tampons and gentle exams hurt her, and she often bleeds after sex. She’s seen her family doctor, had full STI/STD testing, ultrasounds, and exams with an OBGYN—everything comes back “normal.” She had her IUD removed thinking it might be the cause, but the pain hasn’t gone away.
She’s been on birth control since she was 15, so she’s never had sex without it and wonders if that might play a role. She describes sex as painful, with a ripping/pressure feeling, even with lubrication, and it’s left her feeling broken and unable to enjoy intimacy. She’s tried avoiding sex altogether because it’s just too painful.
Right now she feels like doctors don’t take her seriously and she’s at a loss for what to do next.