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Experiencing a burning sensation or burning pain during sexual intercourse is more common than you may think. There are a number of reasons why this could happen, but if you regularly experience such discomfort or the burning is making sex unpleasant, it is better to consult with your doctor to rule out any underlying medical condition and receive the proper treatment at the earliest.

One simple reason for burning pain during intercourse is a lack of lubrication. This could happen due to certain medications such as birth control pills or insufficient arousal. If this is the case, speak to your doctor about changing your contraceptive pill or try out an alternative form of birth control such as condoms or an IUD. Lack of arousal can be remedied by prolonged foreplay and the use of a lubricant that helps reduce friction and painful intercourse. If you regularly use feminine washes, sprays or douches, the chemicals in these products could be causing an allergic reaction that leads to symptoms such as itching and burning. Simply stop using these products and see if the pain and discomfort subsides. There are cases where your partner’s semen may cause an irritation in the super sensitive lining of the vagina. If you suspect that this is the reason, try using a non-latex condom without any spermicide or lubricant that may add to the irritation. If none of these solutions remedy the problem, the burning sensation may be caused by:

• Vulvodynia: Vulvodynia is a condition that causes painful sex in women. Symptoms include burning, irritation and discomfort in the vaginal and vulval areas. Vulvodynia can affect your sexual relations and in severe cases can prevent you from exercising or even walking. While the exact cause of vulvodynia remains unknown, theories include sexual trauma or injury, childbirth, infections, surgery, or a hormonal imbalance. It is very easy to misdiagnose vulvodynia, as the symptoms resemble those experienced by other conditions such as vaginal infections and pelvic inflammatory disease. Once the proper diagnosis is reached, treatment may include medication such as antidepressants and anti-inflammatory injections, pelvic floor exercises, biofeedback and changes to your diet.
• Vaginitis: Vaginitis refers to an infection of the female genital area that can cause symptoms such as itching, pain, and a burning sensation along with unusual vaginal discharge. Vaginitis can be passed to and from your sexual partner indefinitely until the condition is treated with medication and cured once and for all. Candida albicans is a type of yeast fungus that causes one such type of vaginitis. Remedies for yeast infections include a change to your diet and oral or topical medication. Avoiding tight clothing and underwear and stopping the use of feminine products and douches also help prevent such infections.
• Sexually Transmitted Infections: STIs such as trichomoniasis and genital herpes can cause symptoms such as pain and burning during intercourse as well. If you suspect that you or your partner has an STI, get it checked and treated at the earliest to prevent further complications and re-infection.
• Menopause: Vaginal dryness is one of the symptoms of menopause. As the estrogen levels drop during menopause, the secretions in the vagina and urethra dry up and can result in pain during intercourse. Lack of natural lubrication can also increase the risks of a vaginal infection. Over-the-counter lubricants and hormone cream suppositories can help treat burning and pain during sex.
• Other disorders that may be causing the burning sensation and pain during intercourse include atrophy of the urogenital region caused by a hormonal imbalance brought on by pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause and certain oral contraceptive pills, bladder infections, and vaginismus (the involuntary spasms of the pelvic floor muscles).