User:Mr. Ibrahem/Dyspareunia

Dyspareunia is pain with sexual intercourse. It can be recurrent or persistent in nature. It is often associated with involuntary muscle spasms, which prevent vaginal penetration and is known as vaginismus. It may result in poor self-esteem or depression.

Risk factors include young age, poor knowledge regarding sex, relationship problems, and physical abuse. Other causes may include injury, vaginal atrophy, endometriosis, prolapse, vaginal yeast infections, herpes, lichen sclerosus, lichen planus, and Behçet's. Often multiple factors are involved. It may also occur in males due to Peyronie disease. Diagnosis is typically based on examination and medical history.

Treatment depends on the primary underlying cause. Generally it begins with education regarding the problem. Either individual or couple counselling may help. Anesthetic cream or estrogen cream may be useful in certain cases. Most people; however, do not seek treatment.

Dyspareunia is more common in women than men. It affects most women who have sex at some point in time. It has been estimated to affect about 22% of women 6 to 12 months after having a baby. As many as half of women after menopause are also affected. The term is from the Greek for "difficult mating".