Sexual Dysfunction

Sexual dysfunction refers to a problem in the sexual response cycle that prevents a woman or man from achieving sexual pleasure. The sexual response cycle consists of arousal, plateau, orgasm, and cessation. Desire and arousal are both part of the arousal phase.
Research shows that sexual dysfunction is very common (43% in women and 31% in men). It is very important to discuss your concerns in this area with your sexual partners and health professionals.

Types of sexual dysfunction
In general, sexual dysfunctions are divided into four general categories:

Desire disorders: lack of sexual desire or interest
Arousal disorders: Inability to be stimulated during sexual activity
Orgasm disorders: lack or absence of orgasm (peak pleasure)
Pain disorders: pain during intercourse
Who is facing sexual dysfunction?
Sexual dysfunction can occur at any age, but it is more common in people over 40 years of age. Because the decrease in sexual health is related to aging.

Symptoms of sexual dysfunction
In males
Inability to achieve and maintain an erection for sexual intercourse (erectile dysfunction)
Absence of ejaculation or delay in ejaculation (late ejaculation)
inability to control ejaculation (premature ejaculation)
in women
Inability to reach orgasm
Lack of vaginal moisture before and during intercourse, inability to control vaginal muscles during intercourse
In women and men
Lack of interest or desire for sex
Inability to be aroused
Pain with intercourse
What causes sexual dysfunction?
Physical causes: Physical and medical conditions can lead to sexual dysfunction. These conditions include diabetes, cardiovascular problems, neurological disorders, hormonal imbalances, chronic kidney or liver diseases, and alcohol abuse. In addition, the side effects of some drugs such as antidepressants can affect sexual performance.

Psychological causes: include work-related stress and anxiety, concerns about sexual performance, marital problems, marital relationships, depression, guilt, concerns about body image, and the effects of past sexual trauma.

Is sexual dysfunction diagnosed?
In most cases, a person finds that something prevents him or his sexual partner from enjoying the relationship. The doctor will often begin the examination by taking a complete history of physical signs and symptoms. He may also use medical tests for a deeper investigation. In general, tests play an important role in diagnosing sexual dysfunction.

Assessing the person's attitude toward the relationship, as well as other factors such as fear, anxiety, past sexual trauma or abuse, relationship concerns, medications, and substance use, will help the doctor understand the root cause.

How is sexual dysfunction treated?
Most sexual dysfunctions can be treated with physical or psychological treatment. Common treatments for functional disorders include:

drug therapy
When the cause of dysfunction is medication, a change in medication can lead to improvement. Hormonal pills and creams can be useful for women and men who have hormonal problems. For men, drugs such as sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, and avanafil may improve sexual function and increase flow to the penis.

Mechanical assistants
Assistive devices such as vacuum devices and genital implants may help men with erectile dysfunction.

sex therapy
For couples who do not suffer from physical problems and intend to enjoy their relationship as much as possible, sex therapy can be helpful.

Behavioral therapies
These treatments include understanding and identifying harmful behaviors during relationships. It can also involve self-stimulation to overcome arousal or orgasm problems.

Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy can be very helpful for problems caused by past sexual injuries and traumatic experiences or sexual abuse. Also, causes such as fear, anxiety, guilt or bad body image can be treated with this method.

Sex education and communication skills
Sex education can reduce a person's concerns about sexual performance and lead to an appropriate response. Communication skills are also very important. Talking about your sexual interests and needs with your sexual partner can greatly improve your sexual performance.