Sexual Health Symptom Guide
Select a sexual concern to explore common biological explanations, distinguish routine variation from urgent red flags, and learn what to discuss with your healthcare provider.
Choose a symptom or concern
If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek urgent or emergency medical care immediately:
- •Sudden, severe sharp pelvic pain accompanied by fever, chills, or vomiting
- •Heavy unexplained vaginal or rectal bleeding
- •Fainting, dizziness, or rapidly worsening abdominal rigidity
Common Explanations for Pain or Burning During or After Sex
These are educational insights to discuss with a healthcare professional, not an individual diagnosis.
Superficial Pain / Vestibulodynia or Lack of Lubrication
Read Guide →Pain at the vaginal entrance or vulva often relates to insufficient arousal, friction, or nerve hypersensitivity (vestibulodynia).
Pelvic Floor Muscle Tension (Vaginismus / Hypertonia)
Read Guide →Involuntary tightening or spasm of the pelvic floor muscles preventing smooth entry or penetration.
Deep Pelvic Pain (Endometriosis, Fibroids, Pelvic Congestion)
Read Guide →Pain felt deep in the abdomen or pelvis during thrusting or deep penetration.
- Schedule a routine gynaecological or sexual health consultation for a gentle pelvic exam.
- Request a swab to rule out candidiasis (thrush), bacterial vaginosis, and chlamydia.
- Consider a referral to a certified pelvic health physiotherapist if muscle spasm is suspected.
- •Never push through pain—stop sexual activity when discomfort starts.
- •Use generous amounts of condom-compatible water-based or silicone lubricant.
- •Extend foreplay and non-penetrative arousal to allow natural vaginal tenting and lubrication.
How to use this sexual health symptom guide
Pick the concern closest to what you are experiencing. Each entry explains the common biological reasons it happens, what usually turns out to be ordinary variation, and what should prompt an appointment. This is educational reading, not a diagnosis — no online guide can examine you or test you.
Symptoms this guide covers
The guide groups the concerns people most often bring to a sexual health service, and links each one through to the full Openlywell guide on that topic.
- Unusual discharge — changes in colour, smell, volume or texture.
- Pain during sex — at entry, deeper in the pelvis, or afterwards.
- Genital sores, lumps, ulcers and rashes.
- Erection difficulties, including changes that came on suddenly.
- Low libido and changes in desire.
Red flag symptoms that need same-day care
Some symptoms should not wait for a routine appointment. Severe or rapidly worsening pelvic or testicular pain, a high temperature alongside pelvic pain, heavy or unexplained bleeding, an erection lasting more than four hours, or symptoms after a possible HIV exposure all warrant urgent or same-day assessment. Use the emergency or same-day service that covers your area rather than waiting for an answer online.