Painful Honeymoon

Ranjan was confused, his bride, Rani, was refusing sex on their honeymoon. The first 10 days of marriage were great. Rani participated in sex with enthusiasm. Now suddenly, she was doing a volte face. Her excuse was that she was experiencing some pain in the genitals.

How could she have pain when sex is pleasurable? Was she avoiding it because she was not happy with him?

Rani was not avoiding sex. She was experiencing a painful condition known as “honeymoon cystitis,” so named because it usually occurs during the honeymoon period. The vagina and the urethra (urinary passage) are separated by a very thin wall. During initial sessions of intercourse, the man’s penis exerts pressure on the top wall of the vagina. This pressure is relayed to the lower wall of the urinary passage and the urinary bladder (cyst) mechanically. Thus, the urinary passage and bladder of the newly-wed woman gets irritated, because of which she feels the urge to urinate frequently and also experiences a subsequent burning sensation. The urine may also contain blood.

Cystitis in general means inflammation of the (urinary) bladder. There are two main ways through which Cystitis can occur: infection and inflammation.

Escherischia Coli bacteria may enter the urinary opening from the rectum. These bacteria are often found in the perineum (the skin between anus and genitals). Sexual activities like petting, cunnilingus (oral stimulation of female genitals for sexual purposes), or just the movement of the penis will aid the bacterial movement towards the vulva. When the male partner does not maintain genital hygiene he could pass on bacteria from the penis.

A sudden spurt in the frequency of intercourse, as during the honeymoon, insufficient vaginal lubrication etc. can bruise the skin around the vulva and produce irritation and burning. Very forceful petting of the vulva can also bruise the skin and result in inflammation. Some coital postures too will irritate the floor of the urethra (urinary passage) and the bladder.