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What is Genito-Pelvic Pain Disorder?

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Genito-Pelvic Pain Disorder provides an updated understanding of what were formerly two disorders: Vaginismus and Dyspareunia. Vaginismus described how women endure extreme muscle spasms and tension in the pelvis and around the vagina that interfere with sex. In dyspareunia, people experience pain at any of several points during sex: at the initial penetration, during or after intercourse. In reality, these two disorders occur together much more often than not. As a result, it makes the most sense to diagnose and treat them as one, now called Genito-Pelvic Pain Disorder.

Why does sex hurt?

Women most often experience this disorder at two points in their lives: when they start being sexually active and when they go through menopause. The only earlier possible sign of an issue is if women experience pain when they begin using tampons during puberty.

Seeking treatment in the first place is a huge hurdle for a large number of women with this disorder. Feeling guilty and embarrassed are unfortunately common emotions for many people.  These can be a serious stumbling block, preventing these women from getting help. However, an understanding partner and a close relationship with a primary care doctor can make all the difference.

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References
  1. IsHak WW, Tobia G. (2013). DSM-5 Changes in Diagnostic Criteria of Sexual Dysfunctions. Reprod Sys Sexual Disorders 2:122
  2. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Sexual Dysfunctions. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.) [Citation is on Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder, Prevalence]
  3. Bergeron, S., Corsini-Munt, S., Aerts, L., Rancourt, K., & Rosen, N. O. (2015). Female Sexual Pain Disorders: a Review of the Literature on Etiology and Treatment. Curr Sex Health Rep, 7(3), 159–169. [Citation is on p.3]
  4. Bergeron, S., Corsini-Munt, S., Aerts, L., Rancourt, K., & Rosen, N. O. (2015). Female Sexual Pain Disorders: a Review of the Literature on Etiology and Treatment. Curr Sex Health Rep, 7(3), 159–169. [Citation is on p.3]
  5. Conforti, C. (2017). Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPPD): An Overview of Current Terminology, Etiology, and Treatment. University Of Ottawa Journal Of Medicine, 7(2), 48-53. [Citation is on p.50]
  6. Lahaie, M.-A., Boyer, S. C., Amsel, R., Khalifé, S., & Binik, Y. M. (2010). Vaginismus: A Review of the Literature on the Classification/Diagnosis, Etiology and Treatment. Womens Health (Lond Engl), 6(5), 705–719. [Citation is on p.1]
  7. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Sexual Dysfunctions. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.) [Citation is on Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder, Diagnostic Criteria]
  8. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Sexual Dysfunctions. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.) [Citation is on Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder, Diagnostic Criteria]
  9. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Sexual Dysfunctions. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.) [Citation is on Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder, Diagnostic Criteria]
  10. Bergeron, S., Corsini-Munt, S., Aerts, L., Rancourt, K., & Rosen, N. O. (2015). Female Sexual Pain Disorders: a Review of the Literature on Etiology and Treatment. Curr Sex Health Rep, 7(3), 159–169. [Citation is on p.5-6, Psychosocial treatments]
  11. Conforti, C. (2017). Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPPD): An Overview of Current Terminology, Etiology, and Treatment. University Of Ottawa Journal Of Medicine, 7(2), 48-53. [Citation is on p.52]
  12. Bergeron, S., Corsini-Munt, S., Aerts, L., Rancourt, K., & Rosen, N. O. (2015). Female Sexual Pain Disorders: a Review of the Literature on Etiology and Treatment. Curr Sex Health Rep, 7(3), 159–169. [Citation is on p.5-6, Psychosocial treatments]
  13. Conforti, C. (2017). Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPPD): An Overview of Current Terminology, Etiology, and Treatment. University Of Ottawa Journal Of Medicine, 7(2), 48-53. [Citation is on p.52]
  14. Lev-Sagie, A., & Witkin, S. S. (2016). Recent advances in understanding provoked vestibulodynia. F1000Research, 5.
  15. Conforti, C. (2017). Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPPD): An Overview of Current Terminology, Etiology, and Treatment. University Of Ottawa Journal Of Medicine, 7(2), 48-53. [Citation is on p.53]
  16. Conforti, C. (2017). Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPPD): An Overview of Current Terminology, Etiology, and Treatment. University Of Ottawa Journal Of Medicine, 7(2), 48-53. [Citation is on p.51]
  17. Bergeron, S., Corsini-Munt, S., Aerts, L., Rancourt, K., & Rosen, N. O. (2015). Female Sexual Pain Disorders: a Review of the Literature on Etiology and Treatment. Curr Sex Health Rep, 7(3), 159–169. [Citation is on p.2]
  18. Bergeron, S., Corsini-Munt, S., Aerts, L., Rancourt, K., & Rosen, N. O. (2015). Female Sexual Pain Disorders: a Review of the Literature on Etiology and Treatment. Curr Sex Health Rep, 7(3), 159–169. [Citation is on p.1]
  19. Lahaie, M.-A., Boyer, S. C., Amsel, R., Khalifé, S., & Binik, Y. M. (2010). Vaginismus: A Review of the Literature on the Classification/Diagnosis, Etiology and Treatment. Womens Health (Lond Engl), 6(5), 705–719. [Citation is on p.1]
  20. Lahaie, M.-A., Boyer, S. C., Amsel, R., Khalifé, S., & Binik, Y. M. (2010). Vaginismus: A Review of the Literature on the Classification/Diagnosis, Etiology and Treatment. Womens Health (Lond Engl), 6(5), 705–719. [Citation is on p.3]