Sexual Dysfunction: What is it?

Sexual dysfunction and desire disorders can affect anyone, both men and women, and occur at any age. Supposed to be fulfilling sexuality may weigh heavily on the shoulders of a couple.

Whatever the problem, it is often difficult to discern what is what is physiological psychology. The ideas, thoughts and feelings are at least as important as the physical manifestations.

Main forms of sexual dysfunction in women

Decreased desire. Both in men than in women, sexual desire fluctuates throughout life. It is quite normal since it is a highly complex phenomenon. A prolonged decline in sexual desire can affect the psyche and self-esteem, and put a strain on marital relationships. The intensity of the desire depends greatly on the quality of the relationship, physical health, disposition of mind or events that punctuate life (pregnancy, bereavement, etc.)..

Difficulty or inability to reach orgasm. During orgasm, the muscles of the sexual organs enter a series of spasmodic contractions intense and close together. Although they have a normal sex drive and have fun satisfactory sexual stimulation, some women reach orgasm difficult or do not. Others are eager to achieve the simultaneous orgasm with their partner. In reality, few couples who experience it, contrary to what hope can leave the scenes or erotic movies.

Coital pain. Some women experience pain during intercourse (penetration) or after it, either in the vagina, the clitoris or the lips. The term "dyspareunia" is used to describe this pain. The experts tend not to regard pain as coital sexual dysfunction per se, but rather a problem of chronic pain as it affects the genitals, may have an impact on sex life. It also happens that the vaginal muscles contract in a spasm of pain at the time of penetration, a reaction called vaginismus.

Often these situations are intertwined. For example, loss of desire can cause pain during intercourse, and these can cause an inability to reach orgasm, or even a decrease in libido.
States or situations that cause sexual dysfunction

Among the key:

Difficulties in the couple. The unresolved conflicts with the partner often affect the desire to initiate sex and indulge closely with his (or her) partner. Latent homosexuality or unrecognized can affect the conduct of sexual relations.

Stress, depression, anxiety. The nervous tension generated by concerns (this includes the fact of wanting to please absolutely his or her partner and satisfying), the stress , the anxiety or depression generally reduces sexual desire and let- to go.

Sexual abuse. Women who have experienced sexual abuse in the past often report experiencing severe pain during intercourse.

Health problems affecting the genitals or related. Women who have a yeast infection , a urinary tract infection , a sexually transmitted infection or vestibulitis (inflammation of the mucous membranes that surround the vagina) are experiencing vaginal pain during sex because of discomfort and drying of the mucous membranes that cause these diseases. Women suffering from endometriosis often have pain during intercourse. Having an allergy to certain fabrics used in the manufacture of underwear, the spermicide or latex condoms can also cause pain.

Chronic diseases or medications. The serious or chronic illnesses that alter significantly the energy, psychological and lifestyle issues ( arthritis , cancer , chronic pain , etc..) often affect the sexual drive. In addition, some medications reduce blood flow to the clitoris and genital area, making it more difficult to achieve orgasm. This is the case of some drugs against high blood pressure. In addition, other medications dry out the vagina in some women: birth control pills, antihistamines and antidepressants.

Pregnancy. In principle, the pregnancy is far from being an obstacle to sexual life. During the first trimester of pregnancy, sexual desire wilts in many women, especially if they experience nausea, vomiting and breast pain, or if the pregnancy anxiety. From the second quarter, against a desire tends to increase as the expansion of the vagina and perineum, and their blood supply (better than normal) facilitate sexual stimulation. The increase in libido is due to the fact that the estrogen hormone levels are higher during pregnancy. With the imminent arrival of baby and the transformations of the body accentuated the desire tends to decrease again. Sexual desire fluctuates also after delivery, depending on several factors (there were complications during childbirth? An episiotomy was it done? The boy is it healthy?, Etc.).. Moreover, because the birth reduces the tonus of the vaginal muscles that work together to achieve orgasm, this may take several weeks before returning to its full capacity of enjoyment.

Decline in sex hormones at menopause. The hormones estrogen and testosterone - women also produce testosterone, but in smaller quantities than men - seem to play an important role in sexual desire. The transition to menopause , whether natural or surgically induced by removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy), decreases the production of these hormones. In some women, this causes a decrease in libido. In addition, the gradual disappearance of menstruation to menopause gives way to a dry mucous membranes and vaginal lubrication of the vagina slower during sexual stimulation. This can create an unpleasant irritation during sex if nothing is done to remedy the situation.

Note. The anorexia and lack of menstruation ( amenorrhea ) also have the effect of reducing the production of hormones by the ovaries, which dries out the vaginal mucosa.