SynthesisBMC women's health2023
Effectiveness of physical therapy interventions in women with dyspareunia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC women's health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 34 citations in OpenAlex.
- Sexual health interventions for treating sexual dysfunction in women with female genital mutilation: A systematic review.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2026Pooled it
- Effectiveness of psychological interventions in endometriosis: a systematic review with meta-analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2024Pooled it
- Comparison of the Efficacy of Three Intervention Schemes for Postpartum Pelvic Floor Muscle Hypertonia.International urogynecology journal · 2025Trial
- Trial
- The Benefits of an Integral HAMMAM Experience Combining Hydrotherapy and Swedish Massage on Pain, Subjective Well-Being and Quality of Life in Women with Endometriosis-Related Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2024Trial
- Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation for Transgender and Nonbinary Patients Following Gender-Affirming Vaginoplasty: A Scoping Review.International urogynecology journal · 2026Review
- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation for survivors of female genital mutilation/cutting: a scoping review.BMC women's health · 2026Article
- Prevalence, diagnosis, and management of dysmenorrhea among Polish women: a cross-sectional study.Przeglad menopauzalny = Menopause review · 2026Article
- Awareness of Evidence-Based Treatments Among Women with Dyspareunia: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for pelvic pain in women: a systematic review.Przeglad menopauzalny = Menopause review · 2026Review
- Exploring the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Pathways of Women with Dyspareunia: A Mixed-Methods Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Impact of Physical Rehabilitation on Endometriosis and Adenomyosis-Related Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- How to Approach Female Sexual Dysfunction in a Urogynecology Practice.International urogynecology journal · 2025Review
- Review
- Evaluation of the efficacy of Capacitive Resistive Monopolar Radiofrequency at 448 kHz in the physiotherapeutic treatment of female dyspareunia.Contemporary clinical trials communications · 2025Article
- The complications of cyclosporine a in pediatric use and its effectiveness in treating pediatric congenital heart diseases-a meta analysis in combined with a retrospective clinical study.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Article
- Rehabilitation of pelvic floor dysfunction after radiation therapy for a rare gynecological cancer: A case report.Gynecologic oncology reports · 2024Article
- Experiences of digital physiotherapy during pregnancy and after childbirth: A qualitative study.Internet interventions · 2024Article
- A Qualitative Study on the Experience of Assisted Reproductive Technology in Women with Dyspareunia.International journal of women's health · 2024Article
- Rehabilitation of Peripheral Neuropathies: From Lexical Analysis of the Literature to Identification of Clinical Protocols.Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDyspareunia is defined as the occurrence of pain during or after sexual intercourse, which directly affects physical, sexual, and mental health. This condition can lead to depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem in women who experience it.
objectivesThe aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of physical therapy interventions for the treatment of female dyspareunia.
designA systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted.
methodSearch of publications was conducted in Scopus, Medline, Pubmed, Cinahl and Web of Science. Treatment effects were defined as standardized mean difference and their 95% confidence intervals. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using Crohan's Q test and quantified using the I
resultsOf the 19 articles selected, six applied multimodal physiotherapy treatments; five, electrotherapy; three, Thiele's massage; two, interdisciplinary interventions or pelvic floor muscle training; and one, extracorporeal shockwave therapy. The meta-analysis showed significant results for the variables pain and quality of life with the interventions based on electrotherapy and electrotherapy combined with pelvic floor muscle training. These interventions did not show significant results for the improvement of sexual function.
conclusionsPhysiotherapy techniques are effective and procedures have been identified with reliable results in improving pain and quality of life in patients with dyspareunia. One of the most important aspects is the strengthening of the perineal musculature and the application of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. Furthermore, manual trigger point release therapy and Thiele massage, optimize and guarantee the reduction of pain intensity. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42021236155.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.