March 2009 · Vol. 21, No. 03Postmenopausal dyspareunia—
a problem for the 21st century
With one third of the female population already past the age of 50, the primary complaints of menopause—including vulvovaginal atrophy and sexual pain—are becoming alarmingly prevalent.
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Fast Track
During intercourse, the brain’s awareness of vaginal pain may trigger a physiologic response that can cause the muscles of the vagina to tighten and lubrication to decrease
Ask patients about sexual function in general and dyspareunia in particular as part of the routine annual visit
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Alan
Altman,
MDDr. Altman is Assistant Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
The author reports that he serves on the speaker’s bureau for Novogyne, TherRx, Warner-Chilcott, and Solvay, and on the advisory board for Upsher-Smith, Novogyne, QuatRx, and Wyeth.
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