Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — 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.
Genophobia
Introduction
Background
Background
Genophobia (also known as coitophobia) is the fear of sexual intercourse. This phobia may be caused by actual sexual trauma (such as rape or molestation especially at an early age) or by witnessing a traumatic sexual act in real life or in the media. Some fear their own sexual drives threaten a sense of self-control. Others may simply find the idea of sexual activity to be horrifying or disgusting and shun it.
Not all instances of genophobia are irrational. Some women may have once experienced vaginismus which results in pain during sex. Even after treatment some demonstrate a reluctance to engage in intercourse.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]