When Sex is Painful

About 4 in 10 women have problems with sex at some point during their lives. Pain during sex may be a sign of a gynecologic problem, such as ovarian cysts or endometriosis. It may also be caused by problems with sexual response, such as a lack of desire (the feeling of wanting to have sex) or a lack of arousal (the physical and emotional changes that occur in the body as a result of sexual stimulation).

What causes sexual problems in women?

Some common causes of sexual problems in women include the following:

Hormonal changes - such as during pregnancy, perimenopause, or menopause

Cancer treatments and their side effects

Some illnesses and medications

Relationship problems with your partner

Past negative experiences

Depression, anxiety, or stress

What types of sexual problems affect women?

“Female sexual dysfunction” is a general term for a problem with sex. The problem can be a lack of interest in sex. It also can be a lack of response to sexual activity. Sexual problems fall into four groups, which often overlap:

Desire and arousal problems

Orgasmic problems

Sexual pain

Sexual problems caused by medication or substances

Yes, there are new treatments!

Dr. Stefanie Schultis offers the O-Shot® with PRP Therapy and the Juliet™ Intimate Laser. Learn more about these procedures and schedule an appointment to see if you might be a candidate.

Cervical Cancer Overview

In addition to vaccination, regular screening and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions protects from cancer.

The uterine cervix is the lowest portion of a woman's uterus (womb), connecting the uterus with the vagina.

Cervical cancer occurs when the cells of the cervix grow abnormally and invade other tissues and organs of the body. When it is invasive, this cancer affects the deeper tissues of the cervix and may have spread to other parts of the body (metastasis), most notably the lungs, liver, bladder, vagina, and rectum.

However, cervical cancer is slow-growing, so its progression through precancerous changes provides opportunities for prevention, early detection, and treatment. Better means of detection have meant a decline in cervical cancer in the U.S. over the decades.

Most women diagnosed with precancerous changes in the cervix are in their 20s and 30s, but the average age of women when they are diagnosed with cervical cancer is the mid 50s. This difference in the age at which precancerous changes are most frequently diagnosed and the age at which cancer is diagnosed highlights the slow progression of this disease and the reason why it can be prevented if adequate steps are taken.

Causes of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer begins with abnormal changes in the cervical tissue. The risk of developing these abnormal changes is associated with infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). In addition, early sexual contact, multiple sexual partners, and taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills) increase the risk of cervical cancer because they lead to greater exposure to HPV.

Forms of HPV, a virus whose different types cause skin warts, genital warts, and other abnormal skin disorders, have been shown to lead to many of the changes in cervical cells that may eventually lead to cancer. Certain types of HPV have also been linked to cancers involving the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, tongue, and tonsils. Genetic material that comes from certain forms of HPV (high-risk subtypes) has been found in cervical tissues that show cancerous or precancerous changes.

September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. Early Detection Saves Lives.

Gynecologic cancers involve all of the female reproductive system, including the cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vulva, and vagina. All women are at risk for these cancers. According to the Centers for Disease Control, eac

h year in the United States, approximately 89,000 women are diagnosed with gynecological cancers, and over 29,000 die from them. Each gynecological cancer has different signs and symptoms, as well as different risk factors. Risk increases with age. Cervical Cancer Infection of the cervix with human papillomavirus (HPV) is almost always the cause of cervical cancer. Women who do not regularly have tests to detect HPV or abnormal cells in the cervix are at increased risk of cervical cancer. Ovarian Cancer There are three types of ovarian cancer in adults, including: ovarian epithelial cancer, which begins in the tissue covering the ovary, lining of the fallopian tube, or the peritoneum; ovarian germ cell tumors, which start in the egg or germ cells; and ovarian low malignant potential tumors, which begin in the tissue covering the ovary. Uterine Cancer Uterine cancer forms in the tissues of the uterus, the organ in which a fetus develops. The two types of uterine cancer are endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma. Endometrial cancer forms in the tissues of the endometrium – the lining of the uterus. Obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes may increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Uterine sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that forms in the uterine muscles or in tissues that support the uterus. Exposure to X-rays during radiation therapy can increase the risk of uterine sarcoma. Treatment with the breast cancer drug tamoxifen is a risk factor for both types of uterine cancer. Vaginal Cancer There are two main types of vaginal cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is more likely than squamous cell cancer to spread to the lungs and lymph nodes. A rare type of adenocarcinoma is linked to being exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth. Adenocarcinomas not linked with being exposed to DES are most common in women after menopause. Vulvar Cancer Vulvar cancer forms in a woman's external genitalia. Vulvar cancer most often affects the outer vaginal lips. Abnormal cells can grow on the surface of the vulvar skin for a long time. This condition is called vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN). Because it is possible for VIN to become vulvar cancer, it is important to get treatment. Risk factors for vulvar cancer include having VIN, HPV infection, and having a history of genital warts.