Female sexual dysfunctions: diagnosis, types, and clinical presentations

Female Sexual Problems

There are several sexual problems experienced by the females. These problems prevent the female from experiencing the sexual activity fully. This paper will analyze these sexual dysfunctions. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder is a relentless reduction in sexual drive or libido. The dissatisfaction with the frequency of sexual activity of the partners occurs when there is discrepancy in the sexual activity frequency. Sexual aversion disorder is the genital sexual contact avoidance. Excitement Phase difficulties occur when there is absent or chronically reduced erotic sensation or physiological arousal. Subjective Sexual Arousal Disorder refers to the lack of or chronically deduced sexual arousal feelings. Genital Sexual Arousal Disorder refers to the lack of or inhibited arousal of the genitals. Combined Genital and Subjective Arousal Disorder refers to the sexual arousal feelings are absent or chronically reduced from any sexual stimulation forms together with complaints about lack of or inhibited genital sexual arousal. Persistent Sexual Arousal Disorder refers to unwanted spontaneous and intrusive arousal of the genitals. Dyspareunia refers to sexual intercourse that is very painful. Vaginismus occurs during attempt of vaginal penetration, whereby there is involuntary tightening of the muscles around the vagina. Female Orgasmic disorder refers to not attaining orgasm or considerable delay in achieving orgasm during a sexual activity.

Introduction

Sexuality is a constituent of normal life and its knowledge is important so as to be able to deal with the various problems in the female life. Currently the knowledge of the different aspects of sexuality is common to most females because this subject is nowadays being discussed openly. The understanding of sexuality holistically not just the sexual practice is imperative in diagnosing of the different sexual problems in the female life. A sexual problem is something that is will interfere with the normal sexual satisfaction. This paper will analyze the different problems of sexuality experiences by the females. These will include hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, dissatisfaction with frequency of sexual activity, Sexual Aversion Disorder, Excitement - Phase difficulties, Female Sexual arousal Disorder, Persistent sexual Arousal Disorder, dyspareunia and vaginismus.

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is a common type of female sexual dissatisfaction. It is a relentless reduced libido or sexual drive whereby depression is not its cause and it's characterized by reduced sexual activity, desire and sexual fantasy. The female is seldom in the mood for sex and she neither seeks stimulation nor initiates sex. This disorder may be acquired or lifelong situational i.e. specific partner or generalized and in women its occurrence is 20% while for men is 10%. The diagnosed individuals for HSDD can still exhibit sexual functionality. There are various causes for HSDD, and lifestyle is one of them because it the sexual desire is influenced by its factors. For instance there may be no feeling of fantasizing about sex for a single mother who is exhausted because of the family needs which are overwhelming. Other causes are medical conditions like the imbalance of the sexual hormones due to the use of some medicines like antidepressants, anti-hypertensive and birth control pills. Menopause onset either natural or surgical is usually characterized by reduction of hormones progesterone, estrogen and testosterone (Berney, 2008).

Dissatisfaction with the frequency of sexual activity

The dissatisfaction with the frequency of sexual activity is another common sexual problem in females. This occur when a discrepancy is present between the sexual activity frequency and this leads to the dissatisfaction of both or one of the partners. Indeed sexual satisfaction mainly depends on the frequency of sex. Usually a stressed, unhappy or conflicted partner i.e. one that is angry, worried or preoccupied in non-sexual aspect would not be easily aroused or interested in sex with the other partner especially if the source of the conflict is that partner. If the female is not satisfied by the quality of frequency in the sexual relations, then other problems can arise in the relationship.

Sexual aversion disorder

Sexual aversion disorder is the genital sexual contact avoidance. it's characterized by dismissal or avoidance of sexual prompts. The dislike of sexual activity is much stronger in this disorder and evident through avoiding sex actively. it's not just the dislike but also emotional expressions like fear, disgust and revulsion are evident when the person comes into contact with the partner. Several disparate forms may be taken by the aversion; associated to particular sexual intercourse aspects like seeing genitals or smelling the body secretions of the partner; while others show no upset with caressing and kissing hence show normal progression till contact of the genital occurs. Sexual aversion disorder may be classified into several classes. Can be due to a traumatic experience or lifelong; situational which is limited to the specific partner or circumstances or generalized. Psychological factors or its combination with physical factors may cause sexual aversion (Davidson, 2003).

Excitement Phase Difficulties

The sexual excitement will occur if there is absent or chronically reduced erotic sensation, physiological arousal or the subjective feeling the female experience when she is turned one. For females, the typical excitement phase disorder is through the absence of lubrication of the vagina or the physical arousal subjective awareness.

Subjective Sexual Arousal Disorder

This disorder is defined as the lack of or chronically deduced sexual arousal feelings i.e. sexual pleasure and sexual excitement that can be caused by any form of sexual stimulation. There is occurrence of other signs of physical response like the lubrication of the vagina. There is demonstration of genital vasocongestion in the women who complain of arousal problems compared to what is evident in women who don't have any subjective arousal loss complaints.

Genital Sexual Arousal Disorder

The lack of or inhibited arousal of the genitals is the description of this disorder. The reports from the females experiencing this disorder is that any sexual stimulation type causes limited swelling of the vulva or lubrication of the vagina and the caressing of the genitals exhibits reduced sensations. Non-genital stimuli still causes subjective sexual excitement. Women who have deficiency of estrogen and damage of the autonomic nerve are referred to by this clinical diagnosis and vasocongestion is not demonstrated by them although a physical pathology that is demonstrable may or may not be present. There is reported diminished genital response intensity when aroused through sexual stimulation by the females who express genital arousal disorder complaints and this includes orgasm.

Combined Genital and Subjective Arousal Disorder

The sexual arousal feelings i.e. sexual pleasure and sexual excitement are absent or chronically reduced from any sexual stimulation forms together with complaints about lack of or inhibited genital sexual arousal i.e. lubrication, swelling of the vulva. In all the disorders of the female arousal clinical presentation, this is the most common. Absence of libido is also a usual complaint by the patient. Absence of both genital and subjective genital excitement from any sexual stimulation form is the distinguishing factor for this diagnosis from the genital arousal disorder.

Persistent Sexual Arousal Disorder

This refers to unwanted spontaneous and intrusive arousal of the genitals i.e. throbbing, tingling, pulsating when the sexual desire or interest is not present. Any subjective arousal awareness is usually but not always unpleasant. One or several orgasms do not relieve the arousal and the arousal feelings persist for days if not hours. There is poor understanding of this syndrome but its occurrence isn't as rare as has been believed previously. The discovery of the disorder was first in 2001 and about 400 females have been diagnosed by the health practitioners ever since. Normal findings from evaluations of the psychiatric and physiological have been observed in the women who are analyzed for this disorder. The treatment and causes are not yet known for this disorder and it seems they are peculiar to the individual (Blaur & Crooks, 2008, p.380).

Vaginismus

During attempt of vaginal penetration, there is involuntary tightening of the muscles around the vagina. Sexual intercourse is made impossible especially if there is complete closing of the vagina and the woman also experiences pain. There are two forms of vaginismus: Primary vaginismus, when no previous sexual act has been possible as a result of the condition; secondary vaginismus, when it's now difficult to have sex due to the condition but previously there has been sexual activity. Distress and problems can be caused by this condition because the sexual life is disrupted.

Female Orgasmic disorder

This is a problem which is rarely complained about but is common in the females. It is characterized by not attaining orgasm or considerable delay in achieving orgasm during a sexual activity. This disorder is usually associated to traumatic experiences but relationship problems can also lead to its acquisition. The problem can be lifelong duration in some females while its settings can be generalized in some females while in others it can be specific depending on the setting of the situation. For this condition to be defined as a disorder, it must have caused a problem with the sexual partner in the relationship. Other common causes for the disorder include absence of communication between the partners regarding sexual affairs and lack of sexuality knowledge.

Conclusion

A sexual problem also referred to as sexual dysfunction is a problem at any phase of the sexual response cycle which inhibits the couple or one of the partners from the satisfaction experience of the sexual activity. The woman can be kept from enjoying sex by several problems like absence of sexual desire, painful intercourse, lack of sexual climax or orgasm and the lack of ability to get aroused. These problems can lead to development of other problems in the relationships. Medically these problems include hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, dissatisfaction with frequency of sexual activity, Sexual Aversion Disorder, Excitement - Phase difficulties, Female Sexual arousal Disorder, Persistent sexual Arousal Disorder, dyspareunia and vaginismus.