What Is Sexual Dysfunction - Understanding Sexuality: Womens Sexual Health

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What is sexual dysfunction?

Sexual dysfunction can be defined as any aspect of your sexual response that causes you or your partner dissatisfaction or distress. The focus here is not on the problem itself, but on the fact that the condition is troubling to the people involved. For example, if both members of a couple are content to live without sexual activity, then such conditions as erectile dysfunction or vaginal dryness would not be considered sexual dysfunction. Likewise, a woman who is not involved in a relationship may not be concerned by her low libido. On the other hand, if she finds a partner who has a more active sex drive, her lack of interest may become a problem.

Experts usually divide types of sexual dysfunction into male and female issues. Under these headings, they define more specific problems based loosely on three of the four phases of sexual response: desire, arousal, and orgasm. Despite these distinctions, sexual problems are often complex and incorporate elements from more than one category.

For women

Sexual desire disorder. The absence of sexual fantasies, thoughts, or behavior. Sexual aversion disorder, which is the avoidance of certain types of sexual activity because of anxiety, falls under this heading as well, although it has its roots in different psychological issues.

Sexual arousal disorder. The lack of sexual excitement, including absence of vaginal lubrication and other physical indications of arousal.

Orgasmic disorder. Difficulty or delay in reaching orgasm, or absence of orgasm after sufficient stimulation.

Sexual pain disorders. Genital pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia). This category includes nonspecific pain in the vulva (vulvodynia) and involuntary spasm of the vagina (vaginismus) that prevents penetration.

For men

Sexual desire disorder. The absence of sexual fantasies, thoughts, or behavior. Although this problem is more common in women than in men, about one in seven men reported low libido in a survey published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1999. And this figure rises with age.

Erectile dysfunction. The inability to produce an erection that's sufficient for intercourse. Although this is a relatively uncommon problem for young men, about 44% of men ages 40–70 have partial or complete erectile dysfunction.

Ejaculatory disorders. These include several orgasmic disorders. Rapid or premature ejaculation occurs when the man ejaculates before penetration, immediately after penetration, or before the couple has achieved a mutually satisfying sexual experience. Delayed ejaculation, when a man has a normal erection but isn't able to reach orgasm, is less common, but tends to increase with age. Certain antidepressant medications, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can cause delayed ejaculation.

Last updated:	January 23, 2007