May 7th is Sexual Pain Awareness Day

May 7th is Sexual Pain Awareness Day.

Pain during sexual activity (dyspareunia) is a highly prevalent yet underrecognized condition. Estimates suggest rates of 20–40% among women of reproductive age, 60–80% at six months postpartum, and up to 40% during menopause. Among women with chronic illnesses, prevalence is even higher. In men, the absence of standardized definitions and the relative lack of research limit precise estimates, though available data suggest rates of 1.8–12%.

Despite its high prevalence, dyspareunia remains insufficiently addressed, even in 2026. Many individuals do not seek evaluation due to stigma, embarrassment, or the belief that pain during sex is normal or untreatable. Those who do seek care may encounter minimization or misdiagnosis, often requiring consultations with multiple providers before receiving appropriate assessment and management.

Aetiologies vary across life stages and involve both physical and psychosocial components. In addition to somatic factors, dyspareunia is frequently associated with anxiety, depression, shame, reduced self-esteem, and relational distress. Even when physical symptoms improve, psychological sequelae may persist, underscoring the need for multidisciplinary care integrating medical, psychological, and sex therapy approaches.

In light of the scope and impact of this condition, we want to join the Israel SPAD steering group initiative to designate May 7th as Sexual Pain Awareness Day (SPAD), aimed at increasing public and professional awareness, reducing stigma, and promoting access to evidence-based care.

How can you take part in Sexual Pain Awareness Day?

• You are encouraged to share this information with friends, colleagues, and patients
• We invite you to become an ambassador for sexual pain awareness and mark the day in your workplace through flyers, lectures, social media posts, or any other initiative (Sexual Pain Awareness Day is a non-profit initiative, and all activities should be free of charge)
• Are you organizing an event to mark the day at your workplace? Let us know!
• If you share content on social media, feel free to tag: #SPAD2026 #SexualPain #PainfulSex
• Register to join our upcoming ISSM ISSM Webinar on Sexual Pain: A Global Call for Awareness and Change in All Genders.
• Join the Sexual Pain Awareness Day 12-hour Live Virtual Marathon hosted by Hadassah University Medical Center. This event features 35 short lectures by a multidisciplinary, multicultural team including physicians, sex therapists, pelvic floor physiotherapists, and mental health professionals. Lectures will be in Hebrew and Arabic, with live captioning in English.

Check out these ISSM resources on Sexual Pain

• Over last 5 years, more than 2,000 articles have been published in the ISSM Sexual Medicine Journals about sexual pain. Check them out here.
• Sexual health articles for patients on sexual pain
• ISSM University course on Dyspareunia in Women
• ISSM University Course on Managing Female Sexual Pain in the Practical Setting
• VJSM videos on sexual pain
• ISSM Podcast episode on female sexual pain