Female sexual dysfunctions: symptoms, causes, solutions

We often talk about sexual dysfunctions about the men: how many times have we heard about erectile dysfunction you hate premature ejaculation? But say female sexual dysfunctions there is less talk in these terms. Yet the persistent issues that can afflict a woman, having to do with sexual response, desire, orgasm or pain and therefore testing the relationship with the partner or compromising access to pleasure, are known medically as sexual dysfunction.

Despite what one might believe, a sexual dysfunction it doesn’t just have to do with anatomy or reproductive health, but it is a complex one interplay of physiology, emotions, experiences, beliefs, lifestyle, and relationships: Any of these components that may be impaired can affect sexual desire, arousal, or satisfaction, and treating the dysfunction often involves more than one approach.

But what are the most common sexual dysfunctions? And what are the symptoms? Read on for more information on the subject (from information collected on the website of MedicalNewsToday).

Sexual dysfunction is also very common among women: a 2018 study estimates that it affects about 41% of the world’s female population of reproductive age.

In women, sexual dysfunction can cause difficulties with:

• the desire: Low libido can be a form of sexual dysfunction if it causes anxiety in people. People who identify as asexual or demisexual do not fall into this category as it relates to sexual orientations rather than medical conditions.
• the excitement: the desire to have sex is there, but the body and mind do not follow the desire (for example, the vagina does not lubricate adequately or not at all).
• pain: Some medical conditions cause pain in the genital area, making it difficult to have sex.
• the orgasm: A person may be able to have sex, but have difficulty reaching orgasm even when aroused.

Here they are analyzed in detail.

Desire and excitement

Female sexual interest/arousal disorder (FSIAD)

This disorder includes difficulties with both sexual desire and physical arousal. To have this type of diagnosis, a woman must have had a significant decline in desire or arousal or both for at least 6 months. Translated into practice, a person with FSIAD may have little or no interest in sex, as well as a decrease in pleasure when she has sex and this causes discomfort and distress in the patient.

Persistent genital arousal disorder

This disorder causes continuous physical genital arousal, whether or not a person feels desire or wants to feel arousal, even involuntarily leading to orgasm. The causes? Some research has shown that neurological problems, such as nerve damage and brain injury, can cause this condition.

Sexual pain

Sexual pain, or dyspareunia, it can occur before, during or after sex. Several medical conditions can cause it, including:

• Vaginismus: This disorder causes the muscles of the vagina and pelvic floor to contract involuntarily before penetration, making sex painful or impossible. The causes? Pelvic floor disorders, but also psychological blocks caused by past sexual trauma.
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
• Skin diseases: Psoriasis or contact dermatitis in the genital areas can cause pain during intercourse.
• Endometriosis: Endometrial adhesions can damage the pelvic floor and cause pain during sex.
• Low estrogen: Low levels of this hormone can make it difficult to lubricate the vagina. Not only that, it can also cause vaginal tissue to thin out, making sex painful. The causes? Some possible ones may be menopause or childbirth.
• Pelvic organ prolapse: It occurs when poor pelvic floor tone causes pelvic organs, such as the bladder and uterus, to fall into the vagina. It does not always cause symptoms, but sexual pain can also be one of the possible causes.
• Pelvic floor dysfunction: lacerations or bruises of the pelvic muscles or their hypertension can make sex painful. The causes? A surgery, injury, pregnancy or postpartum adjustment.

Orgasm

Difficulty reaching orgasm is not necessarily synonymous with the presence of a medical condition: some women need more stimulation to have an orgasm than others.

However, there is the female orgasmic disorder (FOD)which exists when a person does not orgasm during sex or when orgasms decrease dramatically in intensity or frequency, despite a person receiving sufficient stimulation.

They exist two subtypes: primary type, or when a person has never had an orgasm; And secondary, when difficulties occur in reaching orgasm, however, after having experienced it at first. The factors that can lead to this? Hormonal changes, relationship problems and underlying diseases.

Summarizing the previous paragraph, the symptoms vary according to the type of sexual dysfunction occurred and can be:

• Low sex drive
• Sexual arousal disorder: iDesire for sex is unaffected, but arousal is difficult
• Orgasm disorder: despite adequate sexual arousal, persistent or recurrent difficulty reaching orgasm is experienced
• Sexual pain

Sexual dysfunctions often develop as a result of major hormonal changes (after childbirth or menopause) or in conjunction with occurrence of serious diseasessuch as cancer, diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

Often interrelated factors that contribute to sexual dissatisfaction or dysfunction may include:

• Pathological conditions: Serious medical conditions, including cancer, kidney failure, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and bladder problems can lead to sexual dysfunction. Certain medications, including some antidepressants, blood pressure medications, antihistamines, and chemotherapy drugs, can decrease sex drive and the body’s ability to experience orgasm.
• Hormones: Low estrogen levels after menopause can lead to changes in genital tissues and sexual responsiveness. A decrease in estrogen leads to decreased blood flow to the pelvic region, which can result in less genital sensation, as well as taking longer to arouse and achieve orgasm. The same hormonal condition can occur after childbirth and during breastfeeding, which can lead to vaginal dryness and affect sexual desire.
• Psychological condition: Untreated anxiety or depression can cause or contribute to sexual dysfunction, as can long-term stress and a history of sexual abuse. Not only that, worries about pregnancy or motherhood can also have similar effects.
• Finally, even one problematic relationship with the partner, bodily despair or ethical, moral and religious issues may contribute to sexual dysfunction.

The treatment of female sexual dysfunctions depend on the underlying causes. Often the solutions or treatments to these dysfunctions can involve:

• Adequate sex education: Sometimes, people may have misconceptions about sex that keep them from fully enjoying it. For example, some women are led to believe that the goal of sexual activity is orgasm or that one should be able to orgasm only through vaginal penetration. Receiving sex education aimed at debunking some false myths or learning better sexual techniques can help you experience sexuality better.
• Couples therapy: Unresolved or unresolved relationship issues could affect a person’s trust, desire, or attraction to their partner. In this sense, it is useful to activate a couple counseling.
• Psychotherapy: a therapist can help reduce stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, PTSD, and internalized shame or guilt around sex.
• Hormone therapyFor those with low estrogen, oral HRT can help improve desire or arousal issues, such as lack of lubrication.
• Pelvic floor exercises: so-called Kegel exercises aim to strengthen the pelvic floor.
• Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be needed to correct structural problems of the reproductive system (complications from childbirth, female genital mutilation or organ prolapse).

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