Although it shouldn't hurt to have sex, as it's supposed to be pleasurable, as many as three-quarters of women report having painful sex at some point in their lives, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. While the reasons for this painful sex vary, anything from dryness to endometriosis to untreated STIs to a handful of other reasons, the point is painful sex exists for some women — and that's a problem, because everyone deserves pleasure. Fortunately, sex toys for painful sex can help provide some relief.
"It's both surprising and unsurprising that 75 percent of women will have painful sex in their lifetime, but the collective silence around it causes so many of us to not even speak up to a parter or professional — and just deal with it," Emily Sauer, Ohnut's CEO and founder, tells Bustle. "But new products allow us to take matters into our own hands, to feel worthy and capable of enjoyable sex, and to learn about our bodies instead of just saying 'he's too big.' It's time for a change in the way we speak up for ourselves and one another, because let's be honest — who hasn't had pain during sex?"
Whether you experience painful sex regularly or just occasionally, it doesn't mean you should go without. Instead, here are nine sex toys to help you out.