Dyspareunia - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Dyspareunia is painful sexual intercourse for women. Vaginismus also often occurs in such women. Vaginismus is a spasm of the muscles around the vagina. The secretion that lubricates the vagina is under the influence of a female hormone - estrogen. In menopausal woman or where ovaries which produce the hormone are removed, dryness of vagina. Dyspareunia is considered to be primarily a physical, rather than an emotional, problem until proven otherwise. In most instances of dyspareunia, there is an original physical cause. Extreme forms, in which the woman's pelvic floor musculature contracts involuntarily, is termed vaginismus. Prior sexual trauma. Vasocongestion. Vasocongestion can occur when either partner frequently becomes aroused but does not reach orgasm. Vasocongestion is a pooling of blood in dilated blood vessels. Psychologic factors can cause superficial or deep pain. Examples are anger or repulsion toward a sex partner, fear of intimacy or pregnancy, a negative self-image, and a traumatic sexual experience (including rape). About 15% of women may have pain with intercourse at some point in their lives. About 12% have true dyspareunia.