By Aunty Julie

Dear Julie,
Good evening ma. I have this problem bothering me and I decided to contact you because I have no one. My mum is dead and it’s my dad, brothers and husband. We just got married. My nipples are extremely tender. I wince in pain if my husband even lightly brushes them and even showering and washing that part is painful. I’m not pregnant . What can I do?
Temi, Benin City

Dear Temi.
You really need to see a doctor to assess your nipple pain, just to be sure there’s nothing strange going on – probably not, but it can be helpful for you to know there’s nothing wrong. Your doctor can find out how long it’s been a problem and if it’s associated with anything else such as your hormonal status or anything else.
Some women do have very sensitive nipples or breasts and just don’t like them being touched – this is not great but if there’s nothing wrong and it’s just how you feel, at least you don’t need to worry about it. If that is the case, then it’s a matter of how you manage it . If it’s something that isn’t likely to go away, you might need to find ways to reduce the discomfort during sex.

One simple solution might be to wear a bra during sex so that your partner doesn’t accidentally hurt you. Make sure your partner understands that you really don’t like it, so they can be careful not to touch them. If they are really careful you may be able to explore certain types of touch that may be okay for you, but be sure they will listen and not do anything you don’t like.
Concerning washing, there’s no need to use soap or washcloths on your nipples – running water should be enough, and then gently pat-dry with a towel.