Sexual Disorders

Sexual Disorder can be any problem that prevents a person or couple from experiencing satisfaction from sexual activity. Some 43% of women and 31% of men report some degree of sexual dysfunction.

What is a sexual disorder?

Sexual disorder is a problem that can happen during any phase of the sexual response cycle. It prevents you from experiencing satisfaction from sexual activity.

The sexual response cycle traditionally includes excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. Desire and arousal are both part of the excitement phase of the sexual response. It’s important to know women don’t always go through these phases in order.

While research suggests that sexual disorders are common, many people don’t like talking about it. Because treatment options are available, you should share your concerns with your partner and healthcare provider.

Common Types of Sexual Disorder in Men and Women

Sexual disorders can occur at any stage of life and can wreak havoc. In men, sexual disorders can come in several forms, such as:
Erectile dysfunction
Premature ejaculation
Retrograde ejaculation (dry orgasm)
Low libido
In women, sexual dysfunction manifests as:

• Vaginal dryness
• Inability to achieve orgasm
• Difficulty getting aroused
• Lack of sexual desire
• Causes of Sexual Disorder
• Many physical, psychological, and social factors can affect a person’s sexual function.

Common causes of sexual disorders in men include the following:

• Alcoholism

• Depression

• Drug abuse

• Health problems (e.g., atherosclerosis,

• hypertension, stroke, or nerve damage from diabetes or surgery)

• Low testosterone level

• Smoking

• Use of prescription drugs (e.g., antihypertensive drugs, antidepressants, and antihistamines)

• Work-related anxiety and stress

  
  Common causes of sexual disorders in women include the following:

   

• Anxiety and depression

• History of sexual abuse

• Low hormone levels after menopause and after delivery

• Medical conditions (e.g., cancer, multiple sclerosis, kidney failure, bladder problems, and heart disease)

• Prescription drug use

• Thinning of the vaginal lining and decreased elasticity of vaginal walls, particularly in sexually inactive females.

Treatment Options For Sexual Disorder After the consultation and accurate diagnosis, sexual disorder treatments may include:

1. Medicines or medical treatments
You will work with your doctor to address the issue if your medical condition causes your disorder. Hormonal imbalance is a frequent reason, and hormone treatment helps you regain optimal sexual performance.

Other medications may help improve blood flow to the penis, such as Viagra (a generic name for sildenafil). If your dysfunction is linked to a medicine that you take, your doctor may prescribe another drug that will not interfere with your sexual activity.

2. Behavioral treatments: These involve various techniques, including insights into harmful behaviors in the relationship, or techniques such as self-stimulation for treatment of problems with arousal and/or orgasm.

3. Psychotherapy: Therapy with a trained counselor can help you address sexual trauma from the past, feelings of anxiety, fear, guilt, and poor body image. All of these factors may affect sexual function.