Silent pain during sex: college students report discomfort across genders, but men are less likely to speak up
A study of 263 U.S. college students finds non-medical pain during sex is common for both men and women across penile-vaginal, anal, and non-penetrative activities. Women are more likely to tell partners and stop when hurt; men report pain at comparable rates for vaginal sex but are far less likely to disclose or stop, a pattern linked to traditional gender-role beliefs. Qualitative responses cite embarrassment and the pressure to please. Limitations include a single-university sample; researchers aim to create a standardized questionnaire and expand sampling to improve sex education and partner communication.
