Multifaceted Therapeutic Approaches for the Management of Dyspareunia: A Narrative Review

Background: Dyspareunia is a complex health issue in women and causes an increased risk of sexual dysfunction, relationship conflict, mood disorders, and decreased quality of life. This narrative review aimed to explore the different therapeutic approaches for managing this complex health problem among the women population. Materials and Methods: Articles published in English in Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and SAGE databases from 2017 to 2023 were searched. Twelve studies with dyspareunia as the primary clinical problem were chosen. The clinical efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training, perineal massage, biofeedback, manual therapy, dilator therapy, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, and visceral manipulation in the management of dyspareunia was evaluated in these articles. Results: The literature review revealed that diverse interventions offer valuable options for managing dyspareunia, which can be tailored care to the individual patient’s requirement based on clinical evaluation decisions. This study summarized the multi-modal adjuvant therapeutic options for dyspareunia management. Conclusion: From this review, it could be concluded that there is no consolidated evidence regarding the relative efficacy or effectiveness of various therapeutic interventions for managing dyspareunia. In light of the findings of this review, it could be safely said that a patient-centric eclectic approach incorporating different therapeutic modes will be most appropriate for the management of dyspareunia.