Most women feel pain in sexual relationships at some point in their lives. There are many reasons why this can happen. It usually goes away. Dyspareunia, however, is a condition that refers to genital pain that is experienced either before, during or after sexual activity. You must have experienced pain during intercourse for at least six months to be diagnosed with Dyspareunia.

Although it is not clear whether the condition can be classified either as a pain disorder or a sexual disorder, it can be difficult to identify the underlying cause. Dyspareunia may have serious consequences for your mental and physical health as well as your quality of life. This complex disorder is often overlooked. The pain and symptoms of this disorder can vary and may be felt in different areas of the genitals. This pain can last for a few hours or for a longer time.

Dyspareunia often has manageable symptoms and doesn’t lead to serious consequences. Regardless of the disease’s non-malignant nature, prompt care and intervention are essential to prevent upsetting effects. Patients may experience loss of sexual interest and relationship issues if fast, proper medical care is not sought. Significant distress and disagreements among the couples are also outcomes. Dyspareunia may become problematic psychologically if left untreated. Younger women are more likely to experience psychological problems such as serious depression brought on by dyspareunia. Female infertility can very rarely be caused by a woman’s dread of pain during the sexual engagement.

Signs and symptoms of Dyspareunia

Although the symptoms may vary depending on the individual, it is characterized by persistent pain in the genital region during sexual intercourse. The following are the DSM 5 Diagnostic Criteria for “Genito Pelvic Pain/Penetration disorder”:

Constant, or recurrent problems with one (or more of the following):

1. Vaginal penetration during intercourse.
2. Marked vaginal or pelvic pain during vaginal intercourse or penetration attempts.
3. Fear or anxiety regarding vulvovaginal and pelvic pain, in anticipation of, during, or as a result of vaginal piercing.
4. During attempted vaginal penetration, pelvic floor muscles were marked to tense and tighten.
5. Criterion 1 symptoms have been present for approximately 6 months.
6. Criterion 1 symptoms can cause severe distress for the patient.
7. Sexual dysfunction cannot be explained better by a nonsexual mental disorder, or as a result of severe relationship distress (e.g. partner violence), and it is not attributable in any way to the effects or medication of another medical condition.

Types

Dyspareunia may be further classified into primary or secondary, superficial, or deep. Superficial dyspareunia affects only the vulva or vaginal entrance. Deep dyspareunia refers to pain that extends into the lower pelvis or deeper parts of your vagina. Deep penetration is often associated with deep dyspareunia. In primary dyspareunia, the pain starts at the beginning of sexual intercourse. Secondary dyspareunia, however, begins after a period of pain-free sexual activity.

Causes

Dyspareunia can be caused by various factors, including structural, inflammatory, and infectious conditions, as well as hormonal, hormonal, and psychosocial issues. Anatomic causes include pelvis floor muscle dysfunction and uterine retroversion. Low lubrication is more common in the reproductive years. This can be due to both hormonal and sexual arousal disorders. Contraceptives can lead to inadequate lubrication in reproductive-aged women. Contraceptives can lead to vaginal atrophy in women who have decreased estrogen levels. This is because the vaginal mucosa responsible for stimulating vaginal secretions may thin. Endometriosis refers to a condition where the endometrial glands (stroma) are not present in the uterus.

The causes of endometriosis-associated deep dyspareunia could also be due to endometriosis-specific factors or indirect contributors like bladder/pelvic floor dysfunction.

Treatment

It should be the rule to have pain-free sex. You should seek medical attention if you experience pain during any stage of your sexual activity or at any other time in your life. There are many causes of Dyspareunia that can be treated with pills, creams, or surgery. The majority of emotional causes of Dyspareunia respond well to therapy. For Dyspareunia, connect with your mental health professional which could be a psychologist or a counselor, and find out ways to manage your emotional distress. If symptoms of emotional distress become unmanageable, seek medical attention from the “Best Psychiatrist near me”

Multimodal treatment is a good option to treat dyspareunia. It addresses all aspects of pain, including emotional, behavioral, and physical. The team should include a gynecologist and pain management expert, Online Psychiatrist India, a sexual therapist, as well as mental health professionals who are experts in chronic pain. TalktoAngel is an online counseling platform that can help you with your mental health and relationship issues.

Couples counseling and psychotherapy can be very helpful for those who are experiencing painful intercourse. To avoid further aggravating the problem, it is crucial to seek treatment as soon as possible. Don’t be ashamed or embarrassed, your doctor can help you feel better about all aspects of your daily life. Ask your doctor for a recommendation of a therapist that offers the type of therapy he believes is best for you.