Hey Dr Sue — I Am A Woman In My Early 60’s And Intercourse Has Just Become Too Painful

Here’s the whole submission:

I am a woman in my early 60’s and intercourse has just become too painful. My husband is rather well endowed, his erect penis is about the size of a large cucumber. The length and girth have always been a challenge but intercourse is now intolerable. I love my husband and need some ideas on how to switch things up to focus on other things.

Signed,

Wincing

This is a common issue for women who are either going through menopause, or who are post-menopause.

As people age, there’s a general thinning of body tissue. This happens to everyone and can happen all over the body. Including vaginal tissue, which can contribute to the pain you’re feeling during intercourse.

Then there’s the lube issue. As estrogen levels decrease, so does the amount of vaginal lubrication.

Combine the tissue thinning with the decreased lubrication and it’s no wonder that pain during intercourse is one of the most common sexual problems for women as they age.

The good news is that there are options that might help.

First, have you considered working with a pelvic floor physical therapist? They can be…