Sexual Dysfunction
The topic of sex is a largely taboo subject in our society leading to many issues surrounding it rarely being talked about. As a result, many who have problems with sexual activity may not know how to remedy them. However, sexual well-being is an essential part of every person’s overall experience, and sexual dysfunction is more common than many realize.
What is Sexual Dysfunction?
Sexual dysfunction is an issue that occurs during sex, hindering your ability to fully enjoy the moment and perform to your desire. This can happen at any point during the sexual response cycle, which consists of excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. Sexual dysfunction can be confusing, frustrating, and embarrassing, making it difficult to seek help.
Whether the sexual dysfunction you experience is related to the initial arousal period, your performance during sexual activity, or the aftereffects of the activity, it interferes with your satisfaction and enjoyment. This can result in relationship conflict, feelings of shame, and overall decreased quality of life. Often sexual dysfunction leads to avoidance of sexual behaviors, which in the long run only makes the issues worse.
Although each sexual dysfunction has its own characteristics, they share a number of features to qualify for diagnosis. All sexual dysfunctions must have persistent symptoms that last for at least 6 months, cause notable distress in those who experience them, and are not better accounted for by another disorder or factor.
Who is Affected by Sexual Dysfunction?
Sexual dysfunction is common, impacting around 43% of women and 31% of men. It can occur at any age but is more likely to impact people over the age of 40, as age-related health decline is often a factor. However, immerging research is showing an increase in sexual dysfunction for those in emerging adulthood (late teens to early twenties), generally among men who engage in higher-than-average amounts of pornography consumption. It is important to note that all pornography consumption does not lead to sexual dysfunction.
Symptoms of Sexual Dysfunction
The symptoms of sexual dysfunction vary depending on the characteristics of each particular disorder. Potential symptoms include:
● Lack of interest in sexual activity
● The incapability to become aroused
● Feelings of pain during sexual activity
● The inability to orgasm or achieve/hold an erection
● The inability or delay of ejaculation
● The inability to control when you ejaculate
● The inability to relax the vaginal muscles enough to have intercourse
● A lack of vaginal lubrication before or during sexual activity
Types of Sexual Dysfunction Disorders
The four main types of sexual dysfunctions are sexual desire disorders, arousal disorders, orgasm disorders, and sexual pain disorders.
Sexual Desire Disorders
Sexual desire disorders are defined by a lack of emotional desire for intercourse and sexual activity. This can be an overall lack of libido, or it can apply to a particular sexual partner. There are a range of potential roots of sexual desire disorders, but some common causes are pregnancy, fatigue, age, mental health disorders, medications, and a decrease in estrogen/testosterone.
One sexual desire disorder is characterized by the lack of desire for sexual intercourse, which is described as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in men and female sexual interest/arousal disorder in women. This disorder can occur intermittently throughout one’s life or it can be a chronic and continuous condition.
Arousal Disorders
This type of disorder is related to the ability to become physically aroused. It includes the inability to maintain or achieve an erection, a lack of arousal, or a lack of enjoyment during sexual activity. One type of sexual arousal disorder is erectile disorder, also called erectile dysfunction. This is when someone with a penis cannot maintain or achieve an erection sufficient for intercourse. One of the most prevalent causes of erectile disorder is damage to the nerves beside the prostrate, which can happen during surgery.
Orgasm Disorders
Orgasm disorders are related to one’s ability to orgasm or ejaculate, whether this involves the complete inability to do so or an issue with timing one’s orgasm or ejaculation. Some common orgasm disorders include:
● Delayed ejaculation- the incapacity or extreme difficulty to ejaculate despite sexual arousal and adequate stimulation.
● Premature ejaculation- ejaculation that happens within one minute or less of beginning penetration. This occurs in all or nearly all instances of sexual intercourse.
● Anejaculation- the complete inability to orgasm.
● Retrograde ejaculation- an ejaculation that results in some semen going into the bladder.
● Anorgasmia or female orgasmic disorder- continuous inability or extreme difficulty to orgasm despite sexual arousal and adequate stimulation. In some cases, those with this disorder have never experienced an orgasm.
Sexual Pain Disorders
Sexual pain disorders are characterized by pain during sexual intercourse and are mostly experienced by people with vaginas. There are several manifestations of this type of disorder, from pain that occurs throughout intercourse to involuntary muscle spasms that cause pain intermittently. Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD) is the most prevalent sexual pain disorder and is a combination of the previously recognized disorders dyspareunia and vaginismus.
The symptoms of GPPPD include pain during vaginal intercourse or attempts, difficulty achieving vaginal penetration, fear/anxiety regarding pain during penetration, and/or a tightening of the pelvic floor muscles during penetration. This disorder can be caused by several factors but is often associated with a history of sexual abuse or a lack of vaginal lubrication.
One factor that contributes to GPPPD is vestibulodynia, a biological disorder involving chronic pain and discomfort outside of the opening of the vagina. Vulvodynia, which is defined by chronic pain that occurs in the vulva, is another factor of this sexual pain disorder.
Causes of Sexual Dysfunction
There are a number of conditions that can lead to sexual dysfunction, ranging from medical disorders to life events. Some sexual dysfunctions are caused by purely physical factors, like chronic diseases or chemical imbalances. However, many sexual dysfunctions also have a psychological component and are caused by depression, anxiety, or issues within the relationship. Some potential causes of sexual dysfunction include:
● Diabetes
● Heart or vascular disease
● Neurological disorders
● Hormonal imbalances
● Kidney or liver failure
● Substance use disorder
● Chemical imbalance in the brain
● Stress and anxiety
● Worry about sexual performance
● Relationship issues
● Depression
● Body image issues
● Past sexual trauma or abuse
● Medications, especially antidepressants, hormones, and anti-hypertensive medications
Determining the cause of your sexual dysfunction can be essential in learning how to cure it, whether this means changing your medication or getting treatment for depression.
Treatment Options
Treatment for sexual dysfunction looks different depending on the specific patient and the disorder at hand. Finding the cause for the disorder is often the first step of creating a treatment plan. Depending on the patient, treatment can include medication, psychotherapy, mechanical aids, and more. Some treatment strategies of sexual dysfunctions include:
● Medication- if a medication is causing the sexual dysfunction, the patient may change to a different medication. Along with this, hormone medications in the form of shots, pills or creams may help patients with sexual dysfunctions.
● Mechanical aids- mechanical aids are helpful when it comes to physical issues. For instance, dilators can help with widening the vagina, and aids like penile implants and vacuum devices may improve those with erectile dysfunction.
● Psychotherapy- a mental health professional can help patients face psychological issues that may be causing their sexual dysfunction, like sexual trauma, anxiety, body image issues and substance use disorders.
● Sex therapy- this type of therapy is focused on the emotional aspects of issues related to sex. Sex therapists can help patients overcome psychological issues affecting their sex life and relationships. This can include talk therapy, mindfulness techniques, CBT, and more.
● Education- learning about sexual health, sexual activity and more may help patients to overcome anxieties and feelings surrounding sex.
● Behavioral treatments- this technique is action-based, focusing on the behavioral aspect of sexual dysfunction. Treatment can include skills training, techniques for self-stimulation, and more.
Reach out now to find out how we may be able to help you overcome issues impacting your sex life and sexual health.