New study investigates sexual pain among women in same-sex relationships
A new study published in Psychology & Sexuality have explored how dyspareunia is experienced by women in same-sex relationships. Dyspareunia is a common problem among women but to date most research has been done with women in heterosexual relationships.
Previous research has shown that dyspareunia can affect the identity of heterosexual women negatively since it hinders them from engaging in the kind of sex prescribed by common sexual norms, i.e. having intercourse. Results from this study, were women in same-sex relationships were interviewed about their pain, show that the experience similar problems although the norms they were breaking were different. However, results also showed that experiences of non-normative sexualities and relationships could also be beneficial in dealing with the pain problem. Such experiences came with access to other norms for what sex “should” be like, well-developed sexual communication skills and a focus on nurturing their own sexual desire. These advantages were all connected to social context rather than partner gender.
Conclusions from this study is that social context, current norms around sex and experiences with sexual communication matter to the way dyspareunia is experienced, that sexual minority status should be considered in dyspareunia treatment, and that sexual minorities should be included in future research on dyspareunia.
Read the full article here:
Elin Ekholm, Tove Lundberg, Jan Carlsson, Joakim Norberg, Steven J. Linton & Ida K. Flink (2021). ”A lot to fall back on”: experiences of dyspareunia among queer women, Psychology & Sexuality, DOI: 10.1080/19419899.2021.2007988