Back to HomeBeta

ICD-10 Coding for Painful Intercourse(N94.11, N94.12)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Painful Intercourse. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

DyspareuniaPainful Sexual Intercourse

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Painful Intercourse

N94.1-N94.19Primary Range

Dyspareunia and related conditions

This range includes codes for different types of dyspareunia, which is the primary condition being documented.

Vaginismus

Vaginismus is a differential diagnosis that can present with similar symptoms to dyspareunia.

Pelvic and perineal pain

This code is used for ancillary documentation of pelvic pain not directly related to intercourse.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
N94.11Superficial dyspareuniaUse when pain is localized to the vaginal entrance during penetration.
  • Sharp pain at vaginal opening with tampon insertion
  • Q-tip test positive at vestibule
N94.12Deep dyspareuniaUse when pain occurs with deep penetration.
  • Deep pelvic pain in missionary position, worsens with cervical motion
  • Cervical motion tenderness

Clinical Decision Support

Always review the patient's clinical documentation thoroughly. When in doubt, choose the more specific code and ensure documentation supports it.

Key Information: ICD-10 code for painful intercourse

Essential facts and insights about Painful Intercourse

The ICD-10 code for painful intercourse is N94.1, with specific codes N94.11 for superficial and N94.12 for deep dyspareunia.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for painful intercourse

Superficial dyspareunia
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • Pain localized to vaginal entrance

Applicable To

  • Pain at vaginal entrance during penetration

Excludes

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Sharp pain at vaginal opening with tampon insertion
  • Q-tip test positive at vestibule

Code-Specific Risks

  • Misclassification if pain is actually deep

Coding Notes

  • Ensure documentation specifies superficial pain to avoid incorrect coding.

Ancillary Codes

Additional codes that should be used in conjunction with the main diagnosis codes when applicable.

Pelvic and perineal pain

R10.2
Use to document chronic pelvic pain unrelated to intercourse.

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions to the primary diagnosis.

Vaginismus

N94.2
Involuntary pelvic floor muscle spasms preventing penetration.

Superficial dyspareunia

N94.11
Pain at vaginal entrance rather than deep.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Painful Intercourse to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code N94.11.

Impact

Clinical: Leads to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment., Regulatory: Non-compliance with documentation standards., Financial: Potential for denied claims due to lack of specificity.

Mitigation Strategy

Include detailed pain characteristics and location in notes.

Impact

Reimbursement: Incorrect coding can lead to denied claims., Compliance: Non-compliance with coding guidelines., Data Quality: Inaccurate clinical data affecting patient care.

Mitigation Strategy

Specify whether the dyspareunia is superficial (N94.11) or deep (N94.12).

Impact

Failure to specify superficial or deep dyspareunia can lead to audit issues.

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure documentation clearly differentiates between superficial and deep pain.

Documentation errors, coding pitfalls, and audit risks are interconnected aspects of medical coding and billing. Addressing all three areas helps ensure accurate coding, optimal reimbursement, and regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ICD-10 coding for Painful Intercourse, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Painful Intercourse

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Painful Intercourse. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

Superficial dyspareunia

Specialty: Gynecology

Required Elements

  • Pain location
  • Pain characteristics
  • Exacerbating factors

Example Documentation

**Subjective**: "35yoF c/o knife-like pain at vaginal opening with penetration x6mo. Worse premenstrually. Uses lidocaine gel with partial relief. Denies discharge. History of provoked vestibulodynia." **Objective**: Tender 3-9 o'clock vestibular erythema. Single-digit exam reproduces pain at posterior introitus. Vaginal pH 4.2, wet prep negative for infection. **Assessment**: Superficial dyspareunia (N94.11) with comorbid localized vulvodynia (N94.818)

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Dyspareunia, treat with estrogen cream
Good Documentation Example
N94.11: Estrogen-sensitive superficial dyspareunia with pH 6.0 atrophic changes on saline mount
Explanation
The good example provides specific pain location and treatment response, improving coding accuracy.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Painful Intercourse? Ask your questions below.

Ask about any ICD-10 CM code, or paste a medical note

We build tools for
clinician happiness.

Learn More at Freed.ai
Back to HomeBeta

Built by Freed

Try Freed for free for 7 days.

Learn more