What is dyspareunia?
Dyspareunia or coitalgia is pain or discomfort before, during or after sexual intercourse in both men and women.
Female dyspareunia affects approximately 4% of the population, while male dyspareunia is much less frequent.
What are the symptoms of dyspareunia?
The main symptom is the sensation of pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse. It can occur either during, before or after intercourse. For example, in male dyspareunia, most cases refer to pain during ejaculation.
Female dyspareunia may involve burning sensation, burning, muscle contraction or cutting pain in the vagina, pelvic region or abdomen. Although women may experience these symptoms at some point in their sexual lives, to be considered dyspareunia it must be chronic.
Causes of dyspareunia in men and women
Dyspareunia in men, which manifests with painful ejaculation, is usually due to infections of the bladder, urethra, seminal vesicles or prostate gland. Other causes are phimosis, contact with the woman’s IUD or with some spermicides.
Dyspareunia in women can also be due to several causes: in many cases it is caused by vaginismus, or by infectious agents, genito-urinary diseases, reaction to barrier contraceptive materials (condoms, IUD, diaphragm or spermicides). In the elderly it can be caused by senile vaginitis.
Both men and women can be influenced by the psychological component: in the case of women, lack of sexual desire or arousal, nerves or anxiety influence lubrication. In men the psychological component influences to a lesser degree, but anxiety can also contribute to dyspareunia.
Can dyspareunia be prevented?
Dyspareunia is a chronic disorder. The best way to prevent it is to provide good sexual education to promote lubrication and avoid genito-urinary infections and diseases.
What is the treatment for dyspareunia?
Treatment will vary depending on the individual patient and the cause of the dyspareunia. In cases of dyspareunia caused by infectious agents, the patient may need medication. While if it is a psychological component, psychological therapy help will be the indicated treatment.