Most women who experience pain during sex think something is "wrong" with them. Here's what I've learned:

1. It's absurdly common. Research suggests up to 75% of women experience painful intercourse at some point. You're not broken — you're normal.

2. "Just relax" is terrible advice. Pain creates a feedback loop. Your body tenses up because it expects pain. Breaking that cycle takes actual tools and strategies, not willpower.

3. Lube isn't just for "older women." Dryness has nothing to do with arousal. Hormones, medication, stress, hydration — so many factors. Normalise it.

4. Your doctor might not take it seriously. The average time to diagnose conditions like vaginismus or endometriosis is years. You have to advocate for yourself, and it helps to have a community that gets it.

5. It gets better — with the right support. I've seen women go from avoiding intimacy completely to having fulfilling, pain-free experiences. It's not magic — it's education, community, and the right resources.

If any of this hit home, The Whakk is a community built specifically for women navigating sexual health challenges. Expert guidance, real conversations, zero shame.

$9/month. You deserve answers.