Health Dictionary Find a Doctor

Dyspareunia epidemiology and demographics

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Jesus Rosario Hernandez, M.D. [2]


Overview

The World Health Organization reported a global prevalence of dyspareunia ranging between 8% and 21.1% in 2006, which varied by country.

Epidemiology and Demographics

Incidence

Prevalence

  • The World Health Organization reported a global prevalence of dyspareunia ranging between 8% and 21.1% in 2006, which varied by country.[1]

Age

  • Although clinical data suggest that dyspareunia can begin during adolescence, no large-scale epidemiological study has been conducted yet with this population.[2]

Race

  • There is no racial predilection to dyspareunia, although African-American race was found to be a risk factor for pelvic pain.[3]

Gender

  • Dyspareunia affects women more than men. It can be seen in men rarely.

Region

Developed Countries

  • The prevalence of dyspareunia in the United States is approximately 10% to 20%, with the underlying causes varying by age group.[4]

Developing Countries

  • The World Health Organization reported a global prevalence of dyspareunia ranging between 8% and 21.1% in 2006, which varied by country. The prevalence of dyspareunia in Brazil is reported ranged from 1.2% to 56.1%, which differs from Puerto Rico’s prevalence rate of 17% to 21%.[4]

References

  1. Mitchell KR, Geary R, Graham CA, Datta J, Wellings K, Sonnenberg P, Field N, Nunns D, Bancroft J, Jones KG, Johnson AM, Mercer CH (October 2017). “Painful sex (dyspareunia) in women: prevalence and associated factors in a British population probability survey”. BJOG. 124 (11): 1689–1697. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.14518. PMC 5638059. PMID 28120373.
  2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2016.08.771
  3. https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-7844(95)00360-6
  4. 4.0 4.1 Sorensen J, Bautista KE, Lamvu G, Feranec J (March 2018). “Evaluation and Treatment of Female Sexual Pain: A Clinical Review”. Cureus. 10 (3): e2379. doi:10.7759/cureus.2379. PMC 5969816. PMID 29805948.

Template:WH Template:WS

© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH