Evaluation and Treatment of Sexual Pain Disorders

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.