What is Female Sexual Dysfunction / Female Sexual Arousal Disorder?

Female Sexual Arousal Disorder/Dysfunction is the inability to attain or maintain sufficient sexual excitement, causing personal distress, which may be expressed as a lack of subjective excitement, or genital (lubrication/swelling) or other somatic responses.

Female Sexual Dysfunction Treatment

Female Sexual Dysfunction: Four out of ten women may experience a loss of spark in their sex life at some point in their lives. This problem occurs as the body feels unresponsive to sexual activities. If you are experiencing this, you're suffering from female sexual dysfunction and it can strain and distress your relationship with your partner.

What are the common female sexual dysfunctions?
Female sexual dysfunction can develop at any age. A problem can be classified as a female sexual dysfunction if you have low or no desire for sex at all or diminished libido, experience pain during a sexual contact, have recurrent of persistent difficulty in achieving orgasm and if you can't feel aroused even if you have the desire to have sex.

What causes these problems?

There are numerous factors that are said to contribute to sexual dysfunction or dissatisfaction. Physical factors are headaches, fatigue, arthritis, urinary or bowel difficulties and pelvic surgery. Medications can also affect your sexual drive, such as blood pressure medications, antidepressants, chemotherapy drugs, and antihistamines.

Hormonal factors include decrease in estrogen levels such as during menopausal period and shifting of hormone levels after giving birth or during breast-feeding. Psychological and social factors include untreated depression and anxiety, longstanding conflicts with partners, problems with own body image and emotional distress.

If your sexual problem is already affecting your relationship with your partner or is already disrupting peace of mind, then it is recommended that you seek medical advice.

How is the problem diagnosed?
Your gynecologist may require you to undergo a pelvic exam to examine your genital tissues and physical changes. They may also recommend that you visit a therapist or counselor to determine if the cause is due to relationship problems.

What are the available treatments?
Ideal treatment approaches that can be used are those that address both medical and emotional issues. Medical solution is by using vaginal estrogen cream or by switching medications that might have caused the problem. Behavioral treatments are stress management and couple's therapy.

Non-medical treatments are by enhancing open communication with your partner to improve your sexual health. Other non-medical treatments are by practicing healthy lifestyle habits, strengthening pelvic muscles, and seeking counseling.

If the problem is hormonal in nature, estrogen therapy, progestin therapy and androgen therapy may be advised. Other treatments are by correcting the underlying causes such as depression, thyroid problems, and any other medical conditions that is believed to cause the problem.