Dyspareunia is the term for pelvic pain that occurs during sexual intercourse. It can occur in both sexes, however it is much more prevalent in women. One recent study found that 55% of women experienced dyspareunia on an occasional basis, while 24% have pain frequently or all the time. In terms of its location, dyspareunia can be either superficial or deep. Superficial dyspareunia refers to pain that is experienced in the structures of the external genitalia. Although superficial dyspareunia can be caused by a local infection or inflammatory process, in the PPOD syndrome patient it is usually caused by neurologic dysfunction causing facilitation of the sensory nerve fibers that supply the external genitalia, lower vagina and perineum. This results in a painful hypersensitivity of these structures so that touch or contact of any type becomes exquisitely painful, a situation analogous to the hypersensitivity of sunburned skin.
Oftentimes the extreme pain and hypersensitivity will additionally impair sensory perception of the genitalia so that, as an accompanying symptom, the ability to achieve orgasm may be impaired. Deep dyspareunia is pelvic pain that occurs deep within the pelvis (usually in the inguinal, suprapubic or rectal regions), and at times may radiate to the back. In most individuals this pain occurs during the act of intercourse, however in some PPOD patients deep dyspareunic pelvic pain will develop following intercourse, and, may persist for several hours or days afterward.
Not uncommonly, the PPOD syndrome patient may experience both types of dyspareunia simultaneously, or, at different times during the evolution and progression of their condition. Like most of the symptoms that develop in the PPOD syndrome patient, superficial and deep dyspareunia usually respond extremely well to the therapeutic protocols used in the treatment of this condition. See case reports 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 16 to see the response of dyspareunia to PPOD syndrome therapeutic protocols.
Tags: Chronic Pelvic Pain, dyspareunia, pelvic pain during sex, pelvic pain with sex, sexual intercourse pain
