Guest on line: Nicole du Toit - a sex coach / educator / counsellor based in Cape Town

Dyspareunia is the medical term used to refer to genital pain that occurs before, during, or after sex. It’s very common and affects 75 percent of the female population at some point in their lives.

 

Painful sex can affect body image, relationships, and even plans to conceive. In some cases, dyspareunia can make a person avoid sex entirely.

 

While it’s usually possible to determine what causes sex to be painful, some people are reluctant to talk about it with their health care providers.