Dyspareunia (from Greek origin meaning "badly mated") is painful sexual intercourse, due to medical or psychological causes.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information states that the sex disorder is significantly more common in women than in men, affecting up to one-fifth of women at some point in their lives.
Pain during penetration may be associated with a range of factors, such as lack of lubrication, inflammation, injury or trauma. The pain can also stem from a condition called vaginismus.
Vaginismus is a condition where there is involuntary tightness of the vagina during attempted intercourse. The tightness is caused by involuntary contractions of the pelvic floor muscles surrounding the vagina.
The good news is that the causes are often reversible, even when long-standing.
Obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr. Phillip Sarrel, MD, discusses the causes of painful sex and how to alleviate the pain simply and effectively.
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Painful Sex? Enjoy Intercourse Again
Featuring:
Philip M. Sarrel, MD, completed his medical education at New York University School of Medicine, his internship at the Mount Sinai Hospital, and his residency at Yale New Haven Hospital. In addition to his many years on the faculty of the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine.
Dr. Sarrel has also been a Faculty Scholar in the department of psychiatry at Oxford University, Visiting Senior Lecturer at King's College Hospital Medical School at the University of London, Visiting Professor in Cardiac Medicine at the National Heart and Lung Institute in London, and Visiting Professor in the Department of Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York.. He is currently Emeritus Professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and psychiatry at Yale University.
Dr. Sarrel is the founder of the Yale Menopause Program and the Yale Sex Counseling Service. Dr. Sarrel is a founding member of the International Academy of Sex Research, AASECT, and SIECUS, the Sex Information and Education Council of the US. He is also a founding member of the International Menopause Society and NAMS, the North American Menopause Society.
Dr. Sarrel's research interests have included the effects of transdermal estrogen in postmenopausal women with symptomatic atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease; nutrients and endothelial function; ovarian hormones and menstrual cycle-related migraines; female sexual function, and numerous other topics. He is the author or coauthor of more than 100 journal articles, 50 book chapters, and 6 books, as well as more than 50 abstracts.
Dr Sarrel is an Editor of Menopause, the Journal of the North American Menopause Society. He has served as an editor or reviewer for numerous medical journals including Maturitas, The Journal of the International Menopause Society, the Journal of Gender Specific Medicine, the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Dr. Sarrel continues to participate in Yale academic activities and serves as a consultant in menopause health care.
Phillip Sarrel, MD
Philip M. Sarrel, MD, completed his medical education at New York University School of Medicine, his internship at the Mount Sinai Hospital, and his residency at Yale New Haven Hospital. In addition to his many years on the faculty of the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine.Dr. Sarrel has also been a Faculty Scholar in the department of psychiatry at Oxford University, Visiting Senior Lecturer at King's College Hospital Medical School at the University of London, Visiting Professor in Cardiac Medicine at the National Heart and Lung Institute in London, and Visiting Professor in the Department of Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York.. He is currently Emeritus Professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and psychiatry at Yale University.
Dr. Sarrel is the founder of the Yale Menopause Program and the Yale Sex Counseling Service. Dr. Sarrel is a founding member of the International Academy of Sex Research, AASECT, and SIECUS, the Sex Information and Education Council of the US. He is also a founding member of the International Menopause Society and NAMS, the North American Menopause Society.
Dr. Sarrel's research interests have included the effects of transdermal estrogen in postmenopausal women with symptomatic atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease; nutrients and endothelial function; ovarian hormones and menstrual cycle-related migraines; female sexual function, and numerous other topics. He is the author or coauthor of more than 100 journal articles, 50 book chapters, and 6 books, as well as more than 50 abstracts.
Dr Sarrel is an Editor of Menopause, the Journal of the North American Menopause Society. He has served as an editor or reviewer for numerous medical journals including Maturitas, The Journal of the International Menopause Society, the Journal of Gender Specific Medicine, the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Dr. Sarrel continues to participate in Yale academic activities and serves as a consultant in menopause health care.