Almost half of all women in the United States suffer some form of female sexual dysfunction. Ranging from low libido and inability to lubricate to lack of orgasm or painful intercourse, women suffer a wide range of problems when they attempt to find the close and satisfying sexual life they desire. While women can suffer from sexual problems at any age, they are most likely to do so during broad hormonal fluctuations after childbirth or during menopause. Causes can range from medications such as birth control or mood medications or other medical problems such as diabetes or parner dysfunction.
Sexuality is an intimate and important part of the human existence. However, culturally, many women are conditioned to think they should see sex only for reproductive purposes and, when they do have sex, it should not be enjoyable. Our highly knowledgeable staff and physicians know that women often agree to sexual activity to seek emotional intimacy or to please their partners. This emotional stimulation can lead to sexual stimulation, which creates the physical changes necessary for lubrication and orgasm, leading to a cyclic pattern linking emotion and sex.
The initial component of female sexual health involves desire, whether for sex or emotional intensity. Desire is a complex pattern of emotional and physical processes and involves drive, expectation and motivation.
The female sex drive is deeply involved with hormonal actions of the neuroendocrine system, which lead to thoughts, fantasies, dreams and sensations. The sex drive can be low, moderate or high. If a woman's sex drive is incompatible with her partner (she has a high drive and her partner has a low drive), this can lead to a frustrating sex life. While sex drive does decline with age for both genders, women also experience a significant decline during and after the menopause transition. Androgen decrease can play a role in this decline, but addition can sometimes offer a solution as well.
Expectations are based more in a woman's thinking, her beliefs and her values. A woman's upbringing and her family values will play a large role in how she expects to have or enjoy sex.
Motivation involves the willingness to engage in sexual activity, and might be the most important factor in evaluating a woman's desire. Whether or not a woman is motivated to have sex reflects the quality of the relationship she is in. If a woman is worried about her health, or how the kids are doing in school, she might be less motivated to engage in sex. Also, if a woman is angry or frustrated with her partner, this could decrease her motivation for sex.
By far, the most common sexual complaint is decreased desire for sex. Low libido is not, however, the only complaint we receive about female sexual dysfunction.
Sexual Arousal Disorder is a condition in which a woman's desire to have sex is intact, but she is not able to become aroused or maintain arousal during sexual activity.
Orgasmic Disorder is the persistent inability to achieve orgasm despite what should be sufficient sexual stimulation. To be diagnosed with orgasm disorder, the woman must also be distressed that she cannot achieve an orgasm.
Sexual Pain Disorder is defined as persistent pain during sexual contact or stimulation, which causes a woman personal distress.
Each of these disorders can present themselves alone or in combination with another disorder. To diagnose any of these disorders will require a detailed evaluation, beginning with a history and physical examination by a gynecologist. In addition, laboratory tests might also be performed. Once the diagnosis is made, we can begin both medical and behavioral treatment. There are a number of different treatment options available, including the use of estrogen or testosterone therapy, and the use of bio-identical hormones.
A woman's desire for sex is complex and depends on a number of sometimes competing factors. Our highly trained and knowledgeable medical professionals are equipped and ready to help you find the solutions you need to achieve a wonderful, fulfilling sex life.
