Female Sexual Dysfunction
What is it?
Female sexual dysfunction is a lack of interest
in sexual activity, repeated failure to attain or
maintain sexual excitement, inability to attain an
orgasm following sufficient arousal, pain during
intercourse, involuntary vaginal spasms that
interfere with penetration and genital pain
following stimulation.
Who gets it?
A 1999 study indicated that forty-three percent
of American women experience sexual dysfunction.
Women who are more likely to suffer from female
sexual dysfunction include those who are single,
less educated, have physical or mental health
problems, have undergone recent social or economic
setbacks, or were dissatisfied with their
relationship with a sexual partner.
What causes it?
Female sexual dysfunction can be a result of
normal changes in a woman's sexual behavior that
can happen after childbirth, menopause, or
long-term relationships. Other causes include
discontent or dissatisfaction with any emotional,
physical, or relational aspect of sexual, sexual
inhibition due to cultural influences and
dysfunction of the female sex organs.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of female sexual dysfunction include
lack of sexual desire, difficulty in becoming
aroused, inability to achieve orgasm, anxiety
about sexual performance, reaching orgasm too
rapidly, pain during intercourse, or failure to
derive pleasure from sex.
How is it diagnosed?
To diagnose female sexual dysfunction, a doctor
may recommend a physical and psychosocial
examination. The doctor may also perform a
comprehensive evaluation that can include the
measurement of hormonal profiles, vaginal pH, and
genital vibratory perception thresholds, as well
as the use of ultrasonography to measure blood
flow to the reproductive organs. The findings from
these tests can be used to compare what is
considered normal for women in particular age
groups.
What is the treatment?
Since a variety of physical and psychological
changes can be responsible for discomfort or
reduced pleasure during sex, treatment may vary
from patient to patient. The most common treatment
of female sexual dysfunction is hormone
replacement therapies. For example, testosterone
gel may be effective in women with sexual
dysfunction due to androgen deficiency, while an
application of 0.2% nitroglycerin ointment may
effectively decrease the pain of women with
vulvodynia.
Changing medications or treating another
chronic condition may alleviate other causes of
female sexual dysfunction.
A female’s sexual response is strongly related
to her emotional well-being, so deep-seated issues
of control and trust, as well as identity and body
image, can influence sexual responsiveness. If
issues such as these are interfering with the
patient’s sex life, psychotherapy may be
recommended.
Self-care tips
Patients diagnosed with female sexual
dysfunction who are seeking treatment should also
have an honest discussion with their partner.
Sexual pleasure is the result of a mind/body
collaboration - usually involving two minds and
two bodies. As surveys attest, the most satisfying
sexual activity is the product of a caring, secure
personal relationship. When one partner is
dysfunctional, the other is affected as well.
If sexual problems are new and the patient is
recently postmenopausal, has undergone surgery,
has developed a chronic medical condition, or is
taking a new medication, the patient may want to
discuss these changes with her doctor.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
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