Diagnosis

A medical evaluation for dyspareunia usually consists of:

• A thorough medical history. Your doctor might ask when your pain began, where it hurts, how it feels and if it happens with every sexual partner and every sexual position. Your doctor might also inquire about your sexual history, surgical history and childbirth.

  Don't let embarrassment stop you from answering truthfully. These questions provide clues to the cause of your pain.

• A pelvic exam. During a pelvic exam, your doctor can check for signs of skin irritation, infection or anatomical problems. He or she might also try to locate your pain by applying gentle pressure to your genitals and pelvic muscles.

  A visual exam of your vagina, using an instrument called a speculum to separate the vaginal walls, might be performed as well. Some women who have painful intercourse also have discomfort during a pelvic exam. You can ask to stop the exam if it's too painful.

• Other tests. If your doctor suspects certain causes of painful intercourse, he or she might also recommend a pelvic ultrasound.