What should you know about pain during sex infection?

Pain may feel like burning at the entrance, soreness during contact, or deep pelvic pain. Pelvic inflammatory disease commonly presents with lower abdominal pain and can occur with pain during sex, unusual discharge, fever, bleeding between periods, or pain when urinating. Other causes of painful sex include endometriosis, vulvodynia, skin conditions, dryness, and pelvic-floor tension, so similar symptoms do not prove infection. Symptoms can be mild or absent even when an infection needs attention.

Avoid sex until you know whether activity worsens symptoms, especially if there is discharge, bleeding, fever, or concern about a sexually transmitted infection. Arrange a healthcare review for an examination and appropriate vaginal, cervical, urine, or other tests. Tell the clinician about new partners, contraception, pregnancy possibility, recent antibiotics, allergies, and any medicines. Treatment depends on the organism and site; do not use leftover antibiotics or share treatment. Partners may need assessment in some situations.

Seek urgent help for severe lower abdominal pain, fever with worsening symptoms, fainting, heavy bleeding, repeated vomiting, or possible pregnancy with pelvic pain. These signs can indicate a more serious pelvic or pregnancy-related problem requiring prompt assessment.

Which infections should be tested for? Should my partner be assessed? When is it safe to resume sex, and which symptoms mean I need urgent review?