In dyspareunia (which translates from the Greek as wrong bedfellow – Greek: prefix dys-, miss- wrong- and pareunos, bedfellow) (synonyms: Algopareunia; Dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse); Dysphareunia; Koitalgia; ICD-10-GM N94.1: Dyspareunia) is pain in women during sexual intercourse.
Dyspareunia is also considered a pain disorder with partial phobic avoidance of penetration (fear-based avoidance of penetration).
Sex ratio: dyspareunia mainly affects women.
The prevalence (frequency of the disease) is about 10% of all women in Germany. However, the number of unreported cases is probably much higher.
Course and prognosis: If the complaints are organically caused, a causal therapy is carried out. If psychological problems are the reason for dyspareunia, longer-term therapy is often necessary, including the involvement of the partner.
Comorbidities (concomitant diseases): Chronic dyspareunia can be associated with, among other things: Cystitis (inflammation of the bladder), interstitial cystitis (IC; chronic inflammation of the bladder wall layers that is abacterial (not bacterial)), descensus (descent in which the vagina, bladder, uterus, and portions of the bowel may descend), overactive bladder (OAB symptomatology), and dermatologic and gynecologic conditions (e.g. e.g., vulvitis (inflammation of the external genitalia), vulvar vestibulitis (most common form of superficial (introital) dyspareunia), endometriosis (presence of endometrium (endometrium) extrauterine (outside the uterine cavity)), episiotomies/perineal incisions).
