
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Dyspareunia pathophysiology
Introduction
Overview
Overview
pathophysiology of genito-pelvic pain/ penetration disorder(GPPPD) can be considered as multifactorial, multisystemic, or complex.
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology of sexual pain disorders in female can be considered as:[1][2]
- Multifactorial
- Multisystemic
- Complex
Multifactorial:
- Biological, psychosexual, relational factors can coexist and interact to perpetuate and maintain a womanβs pain response in a woman complaining of coital pain. Over time, these different factors may act as predisposing, precipitating, or perpetuating sexual pain disorders.
Multisystemic: sexual function involves:
- Nervous system
- Endocrine system
- Vascular system
- Immunological systems
- Vaginal ecosystem: Vaginal receptiveness may be further modulated by; psychosexual, mental, interpersonal factors that may result in poor arousal with vaginal dryness. Fear of penetration, general muscular arousal secondary to anxiety, defensive contraction of the peri-vaginal muscles, leading to lifelong vaginismus.
Complex:Coital pain is greater than the simple peripheral tissue damage that may initially trigger the nociceptive component. When It becomes chronic, the pathophysiology of pain may gradually shift from nociceptive, a friend signal that should induce self-protection and defense, to neuropathic, with progressive involvement of the CNS.[3]
- If pain is due to a physical cause, the pathophysiology of the underlying cause should be considered.
The pathophysiology of dyspareunia in males depends on the underlying cause, psychosexual and relational factors.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:
