Learning restrictive sexual values may be associated with dyspareunia

Abstract

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to assess whether the degree of religiosity or certain moral teachings are associated with dyspareunia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey with 24 questions was designed that incorporated the previously validated Duke Religiosity Index questionnaire, medical and sexual history, and demographic information. The index measures organizational, non-organizational, and intrinsic religiosity. Participants were recruited from Ob/Gyn and Family Medicine clinics and from a large university in our community. Results: A total of 901 surveys were included in final analysis. Among our study population, the prevalence of dyspareunia was 19.4%. Participants were categorized by the presence or absence of the primary outcome, dyspareunia. There were no differences in the scores of organized religiosity, p = 0.73 (2.98 ± 0.47 vs 3.04 ± 1.55), non-organized religiosity, p = 0.57 (2.62 ± 1.71 vs 2.82 ± 1.82), or intrinsic religiosity p = 0.64 (10.53 ± 3.63 vs 10.47 ± 4.06) in women with and without dyspareunia, respectively. No associations were found between dyspareunia and a participant’s current or childhood religious affiliation. However, women who were taught “sex is bad” while growing up had a higher rate of dyspareunia compared to those who were not taught this belief, (27.0% vs 15.3%, p < 0.001). Similar results were found in women who were taught to “wait until marriage to have sex”; 21.6% experienced dyspareunia while only 13.2% of those who were not taught to wait experienced dyspareunia (p = 0.005). Conclusions: While degree of religiosity was not shown to be associated with dyspareunia, women who learned certain restrictive sexual values were at higher risk of experiencing painful intercourse.