Genital Pain Project
Welcome to the webpage of our project on Genito-Pelvic Pain! On this page will give you more information on Genito-Pelvic Pain, why research is important, and why we need you to participate in our survey!
Learn more about Genito-Pelvic Pain
Do you want to know more about Genito-Pelvic Pain and why this research is important. Follow the link to learn the answers to some important questions.
We need your help!
“What we do modifies us more than what is done to us.” – Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Are you a woman experiencing genital pain or a healthcare professional? We would love to hear from you!
Your support truly matters to us. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of many. Thank you for helping us!
Our team
Learn more about the team behind the Genital Pain Project.
Important information on Genito-Pelvic Pain
What is genital pain?
Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPPD) is a clinical condition that affects women of all ages and ethnical background, impacting both sexual and non-sexual aspects of their lives.
It is characterised by:
- Difficulty with penetration: Some women are unable to experience vaginal penetration in any situation, including intercourse, gynaecological exams, and tampon use. Others may find penetration difficult only in certain situations.
Vulvovaginal or pelvic pain: This pain can be localised at the vaginal opening (superficial pain) or deeper inside the pelvis.
For some women, the pain occurs only when something touches or enters the vagina, such as during intercourse or a medical exam (provoked), while for others, it can also happen spontaneously (unprovoked). Women often describe it as a burning, cutting, stabbing, or throbbing sensation.
The duration of the pain can vary, with some women continuing to experience discomfort even after penetration stops.
Pain may be present since becoming sexually active (lifelong) or may develop after a period of relatively normal sexual function (acquired).
- Fear or anxiety about pain: Many women with genital pain worry about the sensation of pain before, during, or after penetration. This fear can make penetration even more difficult and lead to avoidance of sexual activity or medical exams.
- Involuntary tightening of the pelvic floor muscles: The muscles around the vagina may tighten automatically when penetration is attempted, making it painful or impossible. This can range from a strong, sudden muscle spasm that stops penetration completely (like in vaginismus) to a milder response caused by fear or past pain.
Why is it important to study Genito-Pelvic Pain?
Genital pain can cause significant distress in many areas of a woman's life, yet it often goes unnoticed and is poorly understood by the public. Many women endure this pain in silence, facing physical, emotional, and social challenges.
- On an individual level, many feel guilty about the sexual difficulties the pain causes, sometimes blaming themselves or thinking the condition is related to their personality. These women also struggle with body image, genital image, and self-esteem.
- Socially, genital pain can lead to isolation, as women feel ashamed and misunderstood by those around them. The stigma surrounding sexual health makes it even harder to seek help. As a result, many avoid speaking with healthcare providers out of embarrassment or fear of being judged. The lack of awareness and understanding of genital pain within the healthcare system adds another barrier to proper diagnosis and care.
- In relationships, genital pain can disrupt intimacy and relationship/sexual satisfaction, with women feeling pressured to engage in penetrative sex to please their partner or avoid conflict. It can also be a significant obstacle for couples trying to conceive
What are we still missing in Genito-Pelvic Pain research?
“If history had been told by women, would we not be so in the dark about a disease that has, theoretically, always existed?” - Abby Norman
- Research and treatment for genital pain involve multiple fields but lack collaboration. Most treatments focus on either the medical or psychological aspects without considering how they interact.
- Genital pain is often seen as an individual problem, but research shows that a partner's behaviour and relationship dynamics can significantly influence both the woman’s and her partner’s experience of Genito-Pelvic Pain
- Much of the research focuses on identifying risk factors but doesn't explore factors that could help women cope with the pain or reduce its impact on their daily lives.
- Current treatments often have low patient adherence because they are invasive, not encouraging, and don’t provide lasting results.
What are we trying to achieve with this project?
Through studying Genito-Pelvic Pain, we aim to make a meaningful difference in the lives of women experiencing this condition. Additionally, we want to address the emotional, social, and healthcare challenges they face. Genital pain is often overlooked, under-diagnosed, and stigmatised, making it even more difficult for women to seek help. To tackle this, our goals are:
- Understanding the underlying causes of genital pain and how factors like medical history, relationships, and mental health affect its persistence and daily pain management.
- Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration by combining the expertise of professionals from healthcare, science, and technology.
- Developing an effective, personalised pain-management treatment that is easy for women to use in their daily lives, including at home.
Our team
Dr. Marieke Dewitte
Dr. Marieke Dewitte is an associate professor at Maastricht University. Her research bridges the fields of relationship science and experimental psychopathology, focusing on interpersonal dynamics in sexuality and psychophysiological sexual responses during sexual interactions.
She founded Maastricht University's first dyadic sex lab, which has received significant scientific and media attention. Known for her use of innovative methodologies, Dr. Dewitte is also highly regarded for her impactful theoretical papers and clinical studies, including research involving daily diaries and experience sampling methods.
Dr. Dewitte has been awarded multiple research grants, and her work on genital pain is considered a leading reference in the field. She is actively involved in the International Consultation on Sexual Medicine, contributing to the development of international clinical guidelines for genital pain.
As a clinical sexologist, Dr. Dewitte co-founded and teaches in Belgium's first post-academic sexology training programs. She also teaches in international curricula and at universities in the Netherlands. Additionally, she chairs the educational committee of the Dutch-Flemish Research School on Experimental Psychopathology and serves as an editor for prominent journals on sexual medicine. Dr. Dewitte participates in the European Sexual Medicine Network to advance sexual health programs across Europe and has chaired and organized several international conferences.
Prof. dr. Madelon Peters
Prof. dr. Madelon Peters is a professor in Experimental Health Psychology at the University of Maastricht. Her research primarily investigates psychological risk and resilience factors for chronic pain, combining experimental research (behavioural experiments, psychophysiology) with clinical studies (RCTs, longitudinal studies, ESM), as well as systematic reviews/meta-analyses. Her work is conducted within a multidisciplinary context in collaboration with various medical disciplines.
She chairs the research group “Experimental Health Psychology” and was formerly vice-dean for research.
She serves on the editorial boards of important European journals in the field of pain and positive psychology.
Prof. Peters has received multiple grants, lectured at numerous international conferences, and organised international workshops. She is also actively involved in educating students of Psychology, Health sciences and Biomedical Science. She also taught classes for residents in anaesthesiology and surgery.
Prof. Peters is part of the European Pain Academy that offers an intensive educational program for practitioners for the European Pain Certificate.
Lorenza Annibale
Lorenza Annibale is a PhD candidate at the Maastricht University, supervised by Dr. Marieke Dewitte and Prof. dr. Madelon Peters, and is part of the Experimental Health Psychology group. Her research focuses on understanding the interrelations between biopsychosocial, individual, and dyadic risk and resilience factors in genital pain. The project also investigates the causal mechanisms of genital pain in controlled experimental settings and examines the interactions between partners' sexual arousal responses. A key component of her work involves the development of M-health tools for monitoring and managing pain in daily life, in collaboration with technical and engineering experts from various universities. Additionally, Lorenza tutors several courses on clinical psychology at Maastricht University.
