Female sexual dysfunctions are produced when a change or changes occur in the woman’s sexual response which cause her discomfort.
According to the WHO, sexual dysfunctions constitute one of the most important problems that affect sexual health. Sexuality is a central factor in our quality of life and affects our level of physical, psychological and social well-being.
Approximately 46% of women between the ages of 40 and 80 have some sexual dysfunction and its prevalence rises with their age.
Sexual dysfunction can affect any of the different areas of the sexual response: desire, arousal, orgasm. Also, the sexual act can be painful. Any of these difficulties can cause dissatisfaction and, indirectly, bring on a lowering of sexual desire.
The response of sexual arousal consists of a series of physical and psychological changes that are produced as a result of sexual stimulation. Amongst the most prominent physical changes we find that the clitoris receives an abundant flow of blood, the vaginal passage lengthens and there is more lubrication. All these mechanisms, which make the sexual sensations more enjoyable, depend on the person being psychologically motivated to have a sexual encounter and on all the structures involved in the act (vaginal walls, blood vessels, etc) being healthy.
A disorder in sexual arousal causes the sexual sensations to be unpleasant, not so strong, or to have an unsatisfactory outcome.
The response of sexual arousal consists of a series of physical and psychological changes that are produced as a result of sexual stimulation. Amongst the most prominent physical changes we find that the clitoris receives an abundant flow of blood, the vaginal passage lengthens and there is more lubrication. All these mechanisms, which make the sexual sensations more enjoyable, depend on the person being psychologically motivated to have a sexual encounter and on all the structures involved in the act (vaginal walls, blood vessels, etc) being healthy.
A disorder in sexual arousal causes the sexual sensations to be unpleasant, not so strong, or to have an unsatisfactory outcome.
These consist in the absence of orgasm, evident slowness in reaching it, or reduction in the intensity or just the feeling of the orgasm, in spite of having the desire and the arousal. It is frequently associated with a reduction in arousal, and it causes a lack of desire because of the dissatisfaction.
Pain in sexual relations can be caused in the more external areas of the vulva, in the opening of the vagina, if there is penetration (with the penis, sex toys or fingers), deep in the pelvis, or after an orgasm. It is frequently due to physical causes: those most related to superficial pain are lack of oestrogen after the menopause or during the breastfeeding period and infections, whereas endometriosis and pelvic tumours may be involved when there is deep pain. There are also psychological causes, as well as the possibility that fear of pain, after having had one or several painful experiences, may bring about an involuntary contraction of the vagina, or make the relaxation necessary to feel the pleasant sensations more difficult to achieve.
Sexual dysfunctions are diagnosed in most cases by carrying out a thorough medical examination and keeping a record. In it, we go into the possibility that the patient may have illnesses or medical or surgical treatment that could be associated with sexual problems, as well as studying the psychological or relationship aspects that might have an influence.
In some cases, analyses or other types of study can be prescribed according to the findings, all of which will improve the therapeutic approach, which frequently includes more than one possibility.
The best guarantee to get a differential diagnosis, which is vital in order to get the best out of our therapeutic resources, is to consult a professional sexologist.
The solution is different for every woman, because each woman and her circumstances is different. Usually we employ a combined treatment which studies the medical questions but can also review the emotional and/or relationship factors in order to have a beneficial effect on the development of the medical condition.
There are medical treatments for most sexual dysfunctions, but in all of them, the therapeutic approach is associated with a number of suggestions that are advised and have been shown to improve the quality of life, the sexual response and the general sexual experience.
Among them we find:
- Reorganise your priorities so you have time for yourself and suffer less stress.
- Keep up a healthy lifestyle: take physical exercise, but do not overdo it, look after your diet, do not indulge in harmful substances(tobacco, alcohol, etc).
- Improve your relationship with your partner and allow quality time together.
- Try to play down your sexual problems, improve your tolerance of frustration, and make your goals more flexible. Introduce new games, both for the “conquest” and during the sexual encounters.
- The use of lubricating oils improves sexual sensations. Perhaps you could benefit from using a sex toy or device to improve your arousal and the sexual experience.
- Get help from a professional sexologist, who will explain individually and in a way adapted to your circumstances how to put this advice into practice and will prescribe any medical resources you may need.
- If your sexual difficulties are related to the menopause, there are a great many treatments that have proved to be effective, both for local and general use.
Specialist in Medical Sexology.
Sources: Department of Medical Sexology, HC International Hospital, Marbella
February 6, 2020
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