Painful sex (dyspareunia) in women: prevalence and associated factors in a British population probability survey
Painful sex (dyspareunia) in women: prevalence and associated factors in a British population probability survey
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of painful sex among women in Britain, and to explore associated sexual, relationship and health factors that should be considered in assessment.
Design: Multi-stage, clustered and stratified population probability sample survey, using computer-assisted self-interview. Sample frame was the British Postcode Address File.
Setting: Participants interviewed at home between 2010 and 2012.
Sample: A total of 15 162 adults aged 16–74 years (8869 women). Data reported from 6669 sexually active women.
Methods: Age-adjusted logistic regressions to examine associations between painful sex and indicators of sexual, relational, mental and physical health.
Main outcome measure: Physical pain as a result of sex for ≥3 months in the past year, plus measures of symptom severity.
Results: Painful sex was reported by 7.5% (95% CI 6.7–8.3) of sexually active women, of whom one-quarter experienced symptoms very often or always, for ≥6 months, and causing distress. Reporting painful sex was strongly associated with other sexual function problems, notably vaginal dryness (age adjusted odds ratio 7.9; 6.17–10.12), anxiety about sex (6.34; 4.76–8.46) and lacking enjoyment in sex (6.12; 4.81–7.79). It was associated with sexual relationship factors [such as not sharing same level of interest in sex (2.56; 1.97–3.33)], as well as with adverse experiences such as non-volitional sex (2.17; 1.68–2.80). Associations were also found with measures of psychological and physical health, including depressive symptoms (1.68; 1.28–2.21).
Conclusion: Painful sex is reported by a sizeable minority of women in Britain. Health professionals should be supported to undertake holistic assessment and treatment which takes account of the sexual, relationship and health context of symptoms.
1689-1697
Mitchell, K.R.
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Geary, R.
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Graham, C.A.
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Datta, J.
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Wellings, K.
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Sonnenberg, P.
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Field, N.
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Nunns, D.
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Bancroft, J.
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Jones, K.G.
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Johnson, A.M.
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Mercer, C.H.
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1 October 2017
Mitchell, K.R.
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Geary, R.
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Graham, C.A.
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Datta, J.
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Wellings, K.
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Sonnenberg, P.
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Field, N.
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Nunns, D.
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Bancroft, J.
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Jones, K.G.
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Johnson, A.M.
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Mercer, C.H.
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Mitchell, K.R., Geary, R., Graham, C.A., Datta, J., Wellings, K., Sonnenberg, P., Field, N., Nunns, D., Bancroft, J., Jones, K.G., Johnson, A.M. and Mercer, C.H.
(2017)
Painful sex (dyspareunia) in women: prevalence and associated factors in a British population probability survey.
British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 124 (11), .
(doi:10.1111/1471-0528.14518).
Abstract
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of painful sex among women in Britain, and to explore associated sexual, relationship and health factors that should be considered in assessment.
Design: Multi-stage, clustered and stratified population probability sample survey, using computer-assisted self-interview. Sample frame was the British Postcode Address File.
Setting: Participants interviewed at home between 2010 and 2012.
Sample: A total of 15 162 adults aged 16–74 years (8869 women). Data reported from 6669 sexually active women.
Methods: Age-adjusted logistic regressions to examine associations between painful sex and indicators of sexual, relational, mental and physical health.
Main outcome measure: Physical pain as a result of sex for ≥3 months in the past year, plus measures of symptom severity.
Results: Painful sex was reported by 7.5% (95% CI 6.7–8.3) of sexually active women, of whom one-quarter experienced symptoms very often or always, for ≥6 months, and causing distress. Reporting painful sex was strongly associated with other sexual function problems, notably vaginal dryness (age adjusted odds ratio 7.9; 6.17–10.12), anxiety about sex (6.34; 4.76–8.46) and lacking enjoyment in sex (6.12; 4.81–7.79). It was associated with sexual relationship factors [such as not sharing same level of interest in sex (2.56; 1.97–3.33)], as well as with adverse experiences such as non-volitional sex (2.17; 1.68–2.80). Associations were also found with measures of psychological and physical health, including depressive symptoms (1.68; 1.28–2.21).
Conclusion: Painful sex is reported by a sizeable minority of women in Britain. Health professionals should be supported to undertake holistic assessment and treatment which takes account of the sexual, relationship and health context of symptoms.
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Accepted/In Press date: 16 November 2016
e-pub ahead of print date: 25 January 2017
Published date: 1 October 2017
Organisations:
Psychology
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Local EPrints ID: 405546
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/405546
ISSN: 0306-5456
PURE UUID: b48a9e3c-bca6-4d5b-9c38-db9e444c5add
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Date deposited: 06 Feb 2017 10:02
Last modified: 21 Mar 2024 02:47
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Contributors
Author:
K.R. Mitchell
Author:
R. Geary
Author:
J. Datta
Author:
K. Wellings
Author:
P. Sonnenberg
Author:
N. Field
Author:
D. Nunns
Author:
J. Bancroft
Author:
K.G. Jones
Author:
A.M. Johnson
Author:
C.H. Mercer
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