When Sex Hurts: A Woman's Guide to Bamising Sexual PainFor the 20 million women who suffer from painful intercourse: the first book to address the multiple causes and the available treatments Painful sex, estimated to affect millions of women, is a condition that causes embarrassment and silence - often going undiscussed or misdiagnosed; as many as 40 percent of women who suffer from it won't seek medical care. And most medical professionals are still in the dark when it comes to women's sexual pain. Now, three leading experts tackle the stereotypes, myths, and realities of sexual pain in this easy-to-understand, accessible guide that will help you get the help you need and deserve. Drs. Goldstein, Pukall, and Goldstein offer answers to your most pressing questions, as well as: Up-to-date information on the more than 20 causes of dyspareunia How to choose the right doctor - and how to interpret your doctor's lingo Valuable tips for understanding dyspareunia, and what can be done about it Why physical therapy is recommended for nearly every condition that contributes to sexual pain How to rebuild sexual intimacy once the pain is goneFeaturing ground-breaking research and stories from women who've also suffered - and recovered - When Sex Hurts provides all of the tools you need to stop hurting and start healing. |
Contents
Painful Sex | 2 |
It Really Really Hurts | 25 |
Listen to Me Doctor | 40 |
Containing the Damage to Your Relationship | 62 |
The Root of the Problem | 76 |
Generalized Vulvodynia | 77 |
When Every Touch Hurts | 94 |
Could It Be an Infection? | 122 |
And Baby Makes Three | 204 |
Physical Therapy | 217 |
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | 229 |
When the Pain Is Gone | 241 |
When Sex Is Good | 249 |
Looking Toward the Future | 264 |
Appendix | 275 |
Notes | 277 |
Common terms and phrases
Andrew antibiotics antidepressants antifungal birth bladder blood brain C.F. Pukall called cells childbirth Chronic Pelvic Pain clinical clitoris common cause condition contraceptives cream diagnosis disease doctor dysfunction dyspareunia endometriosis episiotomy estrogen exam experience feel Female Sexual Pain genital Goldstein gynecologist health-care herpes hormonal hurt immune system important improve inflammation inflammatory intercourse interstitial cystitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Irwin itching labia labia minora lesions levels lichen sclerosus nerve endings normal Obstet Gynecol occurs oral orgasm ovaries painful sex partner patients pelvic floor muscles percent of women physical therapy pills problem provoked vestibulodynia pudendal nerve pudendal neuralgia reduce relationship relax sexual medicine Sexual Pain Disorders side effects skin steroids studies find surgery symptoms testosterone therapist tion tissue treat treatment trigger typically urine uterus vaginal vestibulodynia vulvar area vulvar pain Vulvar Vestibulitis vulvodynia woman women with PVD yeast infections