title: Sexual pain.
abstract: Sexual pain is an underrecognized and poorly treated constellation of disorders that significantly impact affected women and their partners. Recognized as a form of chronic pain, sexual pain disorders are heterogeneous and include dyspareunia (superficial and deep), vaginismus, vulvodynia, vestibulitis, and noncoital sexual pain disorder. Women too often tolerate pain in the belief that this will meet their partners' needs. This article provides a review of the terminology and definition of the condition, theories on the pathophysiology, diagnostic considerations, and recommendations on the management of female sexual pain.
authors.affiliation: University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, Florida 32826, USA. lboardma@mail.ucf.edu
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Boardman
authors.forename: Colleen K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Stockdale
mesh_terms: D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination; D015995:Prevalence; D052065:Vaginismus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D056650:Vulvodynia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy