Evaluation and Treatment of Sexual Pain Disorders

Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Mar 1;68(1):21-31. doi: 10.1097/GRF.0000000000000909. Epub 2025 Jan 23.

Abstract

Pain that occurs during sexual activity is highly prevalent during a woman's lifetime, affecting ∼15% of women. The etiology of dyspareunia is multifactorial. Therefore, treatment must be individualized. This paper reviews the evaluation and treatment of the several common causes of dyspareunia and/or pelvic pain, including hormonally associated vestibulodynia, inflammation-associated vestibulodynia, neuroproliferative vestibulodynia, overactive pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, vulvar dysesthesia, persistent genital arousal disorder, and painful bladder syndrome.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Dyspareunia* / diagnosis
  • Dyspareunia* / etiology
  • Dyspareunia* / physiopathology
  • Dyspareunia* / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pelvic Floor Disorders / complications
  • Pelvic Floor Disorders / diagnosis
  • Pelvic Floor Disorders / physiopathology
  • Pelvic Floor Disorders / therapy
  • Pelvic Pain* / diagnosis
  • Pelvic Pain* / etiology
  • Pelvic Pain* / physiopathology
  • Pelvic Pain* / therapy
  • Vulvodynia* / diagnosis
  • Vulvodynia* / etiology
  • Vulvodynia* / physiopathology
  • Vulvodynia* / therapy