Rossi V., Tripodi F., NIMBI F.M., Simonelli C. (2018). Genital sexual pain in reproductive-age women: an explorative study. 14th Congress of the European Federation of Sexology
Abstract
Publication Date:
2018
abstract:
Objective: Genital Sexual Pain (GSP) is a common symptom in reproductive-age women. Although this
complaint could negatively affect the quality of sex life, there is still a lack of awareness about it in the female
population. The objective of the present study was to explore the presence of GSP in reproductive-age
women, the characteristics of pain (duration, location, etiology), the way women deal with the symptom, and
their sexual functioning.
Design and Method: 653 women (mean age 25.7±4.37) were recruited with snowball method. Participants
completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), the Female Sexual
Functioning Index (FSFI), the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS).
Results: 190 women (29.6%) experienced GSP in the last 6 months (mean duration of the symptom
16.87±33.75) located in: vaginal introitus and vestibule (52.1%), lower abdomen/pelvis (44.7%), labia
minora/majora (25.3%), clitoris (8.4%), and perineum/anus (5.3%). Most women (75.3%) did not know the
cause of the pain, and a quarter of them (24.7%) reported a specific diagnosis. 58 out of 190 (30.5%)
considered GSP as a “sexual problem”. 69 (36.31%) and 50 (26.31%) reached clinical scores on FSFI and
FSDS, respectively; only13 (7%) referred to a psycho-sexologist.
Conclusions: GSP was present in almost 30% of women, nevertheless just few of them asked help to a
specialist. There is still a lack of awareness about pain; cultural aspects may lead women to go on with the
symptom increasing the risk of its chronicization and sexuality impairment.
complaint could negatively affect the quality of sex life, there is still a lack of awareness about it in the female
population. The objective of the present study was to explore the presence of GSP in reproductive-age
women, the characteristics of pain (duration, location, etiology), the way women deal with the symptom, and
their sexual functioning.
Design and Method: 653 women (mean age 25.7±4.37) were recruited with snowball method. Participants
completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), the Female Sexual
Functioning Index (FSFI), the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS).
Results: 190 women (29.6%) experienced GSP in the last 6 months (mean duration of the symptom
16.87±33.75) located in: vaginal introitus and vestibule (52.1%), lower abdomen/pelvis (44.7%), labia
minora/majora (25.3%), clitoris (8.4%), and perineum/anus (5.3%). Most women (75.3%) did not know the
cause of the pain, and a quarter of them (24.7%) reported a specific diagnosis. 58 out of 190 (30.5%)
considered GSP as a “sexual problem”. 69 (36.31%) and 50 (26.31%) reached clinical scores on FSFI and
FSDS, respectively; only13 (7%) referred to a psycho-sexologist.
Conclusions: GSP was present in almost 30% of women, nevertheless just few of them asked help to a
specialist. There is still a lack of awareness about pain; cultural aspects may lead women to go on with the
symptom increasing the risk of its chronicization and sexuality impairment.
Iris type:
4.2 Abstract in Atti di convegno
Keywords:
Sexual pain; women; sexuality
List of contributors:
Rossi, V.; Tripodi, F.; Nimbi, F. M.; Simonelli, C.
Book title:
14th Congress of the European Federation of Sexology. Abstract Book