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Take part in our study:

Women collecting Real Stories from Real Women

What do you do when you feel it? Do you suffer through and tolerate it? Do you tell your partner or do you keep silent in order to "protect" him? Did you find some self-help exercises that help?

Or maybe you are a medical professional who helps women like us : a therapist or gynecologist?

We want to talk to you! Your story is important! In June and July, we will have intimate coffees with:

  • Women ages 16 to 45 who experience pain during sex
  • Women who have successfully reduced or eliminated pain during sex
  • Physical therapists and medical clinicians (such as ob/gyns, family practice physicians, and internists) with experience diagnosing and treating pain during sex

If you are in one of these groups and are willing to take part in a 60 minute meeting/ call, please fill out this sign up in this form and we will contact you by email to set up an interview.

75% of women experience pain with sex

Although most women experiencing painful sex feel alone, the problem is sadly common. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology 75% of women experience pain with intercourse or penetration at some point in their lives. Chronic and persistent pain affects up to 22% of women. In fact, according to the NY Times, “pain with sex is up there in prevalence with migraine and low back pain, and yet it is woefully understudied and rarely discussed.” Many women told us they don’t discuss their pain with close friends and family or even with their sexual partners. They may be embarrassed and overwhelmed, or they may think that silence will somehow “protect” their partners. This silence understandably further exacerbates the emotional and psychological stress. You can read more about the problem in our previous blog, a great blog about pain and discomfort during sex at Confi, or a series of free videos from practitioners from the Pelvic Health Summit.

If you, or any of your female friends are suffering from pain during sex, or have found treatments that alleviate their pain, I would like to talk to you whether or not you have already sought medical care and whether or not you already have received a diagnosis (for example, vaginismus or vulvodynia).

Your story is important! Please sign up here, and I will be in touch with you soon.

Thank you!

Thanks to all our partners and collaborators: Harvard Kennedy School Women in Public Policy Program, Our Bodies Our Selves, Confi and many individual contributors.