Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Rate and related factors of dyspareunia in reproductive age women: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine rate and related factors of dyspareunia. Three hundred and nineteen women aged 15–49 years were surveyed. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Pelvic examinations and connective tissue disorders were investigated. At whole 54.5% had dyspareunia. The means of gravidity, parity, delivery without episiotomy and vaginal length were more in women with dyspareunia. Heavy lifting, chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, arthritis, constipation, pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic muscle strength had significant relation to dyspareunia. The prevalence of urinary infection, stress incontinence, urgency, positional changes to start or complete voiding, fecal straining, low back pain, digital manipulation of vagina, perineum or anus to complete defecation, feeling genital pain or pressure and sensation of a mass in vagina was more in women with dyspareunia. These factors can be considered in the evaluation of women, to prevent those at risk and also have better management of this disorder.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Halvorsen JG, Metz ME . Sexual dysfunction, part 1: classification, etiology and pathogenesis. J Am Board Fam Prac 1992; 5: 51–61.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Laumann EQ, Paik A, Rosen RC . Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors. JAMA 1999; 281: 537–544.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Haim LT . Evaluation and differential diagnosis of dyspareunia. Am Fam Physician 2001; 63: 1535–1544.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Nam Y, Dikarsky AJ, Wexner SD . Reproducibility of colonic transit study in patients with chronic constipation. Dis Colon Rectum 2001; 44: 86–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Bump RC, Mattiasson A, Bo K . The standardization of terminology of female pelvic organs prolapse and pelvic floor dysfunction. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1996; 175: 10–17.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Swift MD . Distribution of pelvic organ support in a population of female subjects seen for routine gynecologic health care. Am Obstet Gynecol 2000; 183: 277–285.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Samuelsson EC, Victor FTA, Tibblin G, Svardsudd KF . Signs of genital prolapse in a Swedish population of women 20–59 years of age and possible related factors. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999; 180: 299–305.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Norton PA, Baker RN, Sharp HC, Warensky J . Genitourinary prolapse and joint hypermobility in women. Obstet Gynecol 1995; 85: 225–228.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Shokrollahi P, Mirmohamadi M, Mehrabi F, Babaeei G . Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women seeking services at family planning centers in Tehran. J Sex Marital Ther 1993; 25: 211–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Rosen RC, Taylor JF, Leiblum SR, Bachmann GA . Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women: results of survey study of 329 women in an outpatient gynecology clinic. J Sex Marital Ther 1993; 19: 171–188.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Herny MM, Parks AG, Swash M . The pelvic floor musculature in the descending perineum syndrome. Br J Surg 1982; 69: 470–472.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Goetsch MF . Postpartum dyspareunia. An unexplored problem. J Reprod Med 1999; 44: 963–968.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Mckay DH, Norman J, Callender R, Ramsden I . Gynecology Illustrated, 5th edn. Churchill Livingstone: Edinburgh, 1996, pp 366–367.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kapoor DS, Davila GW, Rosenthal KJ, Ghoniem GG . Voiding and sexual dysfunction in morbidly obese women using validated symptom inventories and quality of life questionnaires. A case–control study. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2001; 12(Suppl 1): 54.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Vermeulen RCW, Scholte HR . Chronic fatigue syndrome and sexual dysfunction. J Psychosomat Res 2004; 56: 1999–2001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Gottlieb S . Educated adults have fewer sex problems in the US. BMJ 1999; 318: 415–417.

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Lyngdorf P, Hemmingsen L . Epidemiology of erectile dysfunction and its risk factors: a practice-based study in Denmark. Int J Impot 2004; 16: 105–112.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Weber AM, Walters MD, Piedmonte MK . Sexual function and vaginal anatomy in women before and after surgery for pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000; 182: 1610–1650.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Lemack GE, Zimmern PE . Sexual function after vaginal surgery for stress incontinence: results of a mailed questionnaire. Urology 2000; 56: 223–227.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Nusbaum MH, Hamilton C, Lenahan P . Chronic illness and sexual functioning. Am Fam Physician 2003; 67: 347–354.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Read J . ABC of sexual health: sexual problems associated with infertility, pregnancy and aging. BMJ 1999; 318: 587–589.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Tercstia Mc, Fromm LM, Roberts LW, Dorin M, Harrington DJ . Biopsychosocial topics in women's sexual health. In: Copeland JJ, Jarrell JF (eds). Textbook of Gynecology, 2nd edn. WB Sunders Company: Philadelphia, 1999, pp 324–359.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Adbo Jr C, Ooliveira Jr WM, Moreira ED, Fittipald JAS . Prevalence of sexual dysfunction and correlated conditions in a sample of Brazilain women-results of the Brazilian study on behavior (BSSB). Int J Impot Res 2004; 16: 160–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Bradshow HD, Radley SC, Bottcher B, Wyle KR, Shorthouse AJ, Chapple CR . Sexual function in women with pelvic floor disorders. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2001; 12(Suppl 1): 60.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Okonkow JEN, Obinu CO, Obiechina NJA . Factors contributing to urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in Nigeria. Int Gynecol Obstet 2001; 72: 301–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Stanton SC, Monga AK . Pelvic Organs Prolapse. Churchill Livingstone: London, 2000, pp 357–373.

    Google Scholar 

  27. American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Chronic Pelvic Pain, Technical Bulletin No. 223. ACOG: Washington, DC, 1996.

  28. Bread RW, Reginald PW, Wadsworth J . Clinical features of women with chronic lower abdominal pain and pelvic congestion. Br J Obstet Gynecol 1988; 95: 153–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Steege JF, Ling FW . Dyspareunia: a special type of chronic pelvic pain. Obstet Gynecol Clin N Am 1993; 20: 779–793.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Meana M, Binik YM, Khalife S, Cohen D . Dyspareunia: sexual dysfunction or pain syndrome. J Nerv Ment Dis 1997; 185: 561–569.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Nusbaum MRH, Hamilton CP . The proactive sexual health history. Am Fam Physician 2002; 66: 1705–1712.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The support provided by the research Department of Tabriz University of medical sciences is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S S Sobhgol.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sobhgol, S., Alizadeli Charndabee, S. Rate and related factors of dyspareunia in reproductive age women: a cross-sectional study. Int J Impot Res 19, 88–94 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901495

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901495

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links