A delivery with episiotomy, perineal tearing or labor dystocia using forceps or vacuum, are risk factors that contribute to the appearance of de novo dyspareunia with a prevalence of 17-45% at 6 months postpartum. Dyspareunia is a type of genito-pelvic pain (GPP) that takes place during vaginal penetration at some point in sexual intercourse. It greatly affects quality of life as well as psychological and sexual wellbeing. 
There is no evidence in the scientific literature of the effect of radiofrequency (RF) in patients with de novo dyspareunia due to an obstetric injury. It is for all the previously mentioned that the following project is proposed, to evaluate the effect of RF in perineal scars and vaginal trigger points in these specific patients. 

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the role that radiofrequency (RF) plays in reducing the level of pain in de novo dyspareunia in postpartum women that persists from 4 to 14 months.

A randomised prospective trial is being conducted in women presenting de novo dyspareunia upon resumption of coital intercourse after having a vaginal delivery with episiotomy, obstetric tearing of the anal sphincter (identified and repaired during labour), labour dystocia, and/or a macrosomic infant. In this study we identify two groups that have received 5 sessions of RF. The intervention group (IG) receives treatment with activated RF, and the control group (CG) receives sham treatment and the groups are double-blinded. Other than RF, both groups perform daily perineal massage at home. We have evaluated, as a main variable, the level of pain using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) in the initial session and at the end of the 5 sessions. As secondary variables we have evaluated the sexual function, quality of life and other pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms.

To date, we have included 50 women, 38 of which finished the 5 sessions, with a mean age of 36.58 (SD 7.37). 52.8% of the women presented an episiotomy and 44.4% had a 2nd or 3rd degree perineal tear. 22.2% of the women had a levator ani muscle avulsion and 16.7% a lesion of the anal sphincter.
A decrease of the level of pain during coital sexual intercourse has been observed at the end of the treatment of -4.139 points (SD 2.09) regarding the baseline VAS pain level in the IG (n=18) and -2.900 points (SD 1.91) in the CG (n=20), although not statistically significant (p=0.065).

The preliminary analysis of the 38 patients that have already finished the 5 sessions of treatment together with daily perineal massage shows a higher decrease of the level of pain during penetration in the IG compared to the CG.

Radiofrequency seems to have a positive effect on patients who present de novo dyspareunia due to an obstetric lesion during childbirth.