An estimated 17–19% of women in the United States suffer from chronic sexual pain and dyspareunia of vulvovaginal origin. The majority will see several health care providers in an effort to comprehensively diagnose, evaluate, and decide on a management strategy for the condition. As a result of countless encounters with health care providers, and after trying numerous unsuccessful traditional medical interventions woman can feel frustrated and look to the use of complementary and alternative solutions to “solve their sexual health mystery.” According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, an estimated 83 million adults in the United States spent $33.9 billion dollars on complementary and alternative medicine. Complementary therapies, including psychotherapy, physical therapy, and behavioral modification strategies, are becoming increasingly popular for women who are seeking treatment of chronic sexual pain either as a first-line therapy monotherapy or as cotherapies added to traditional medical pharmacotherapy.
TOWARDS A NEW UNDERSTADING OF THE CURSE OF EVE: FEMALE SEXUAL PAIN IN GENESIS 3:16 AND OTHER ANCIENT TEXTS
