Pronounced: dis-par-oon-ya
Dyspareunia refers to pain in the pelvic area. It occurs during or after sexual intercourse. This can occur in both men and women. It is more common in women.
The cause is believed to be physical factors at least 75%-80% of the time.
Some pain occurs first at entry but decreases over time. This is often caused by not having enough lubrication. This is often due to a lack of sexual arousal and stimulation. It can also be due to some medications. Antihistamines can cause dryness. Frequent douching can cause problems as well.
Other causes in women include:
Psychological factors are not often involved, but may be associated with:
The most common causes of pain in men are:
Pain that occurs while obtaining an erection may be associated with:
Factors that increase your chance of dyspareunia include:
In women:
In men and women:
Pain associated with dyspareunia may:
The diagnosis is often made based on your symptoms. Your doctor will take a medical and sexual history. A physical exam will be done.
For women:
For men and women:
To treat prostatitis and urethritis, the doctor may recommend:
Sometimes surgery may be done to treat foreskin and other erectile problems.
When no physical cause of the pain can be found, sex therapy may be helpful. Some concerns need to be worked through in counseling. These may include:
RESOURCES:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/
Family Doctor
http://familydoctor.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Sex Information and Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN)
http://www.sieccan.org/
Sexuality and You
http://www.sexualityandu.ca/
References:
Heim LJ. Evaluation and differential diagnosis of dyspareunia. Am Fam Physician . 2001;63(8):1535-1544.
Griffith's 5-Minute Clinical Consult . Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2001.
Kistner's Gynecology & Women's Health . 7th ed. Mosby, Inc.; 1999.
Lightner DJ. Female sexual dysfunction [review]. Mayo Clin Proc. 2002;77:698-702.
Medline Plus website. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003157.htm . Last accessed on November 24, 2007.
Last reviewed January 2009 by Ganson Purcell Jr., MD, FACOG, FACPE
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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