Sexual Dysfunction - An Informative Guide

What Is Sexual Dysfunction?

Sexual dysfunction can be experienced by individuals at any age, during any point during the sexual response cycle,  and for a wide range of reasons, including medical, psychological, and physiological factors.

It prevents you from being able to get aroused, and, in some cases, denies you the experience of sexual activity altogether.

Normally, the sexual response cycle occurs as follows:

• Excitement

• Plateau

• Orgasm

• Resolution

The sexual response cycle of an individual suffering from sexual dysfunction may look like this:

• Excitement

• Dysfunction Occurs

• No Plateau

• No Resolution

It is important to note that all sexual response cycles are not the same, but rather, the examples used in this guide are meant to illustrate how dysfunction can disrupt a functional sexual response cycle.

The main types of sexual dysfunctions are:

• Desire Disorders: Partial/complete loss of interest in sexual activity

• Arousal Disorders: Physical inability to become sexually excited/aroused

• Orgasm Disorders: Delayed or diminished orgasms during sexual activity

• Pain Disorders: Physical pain is experienced during sexual activity

Although recent research confirms that sexual dysfunction is much more common than many may think, the topic is still considered taboo by many.

If you believe you are suffering from sexual dysfunction, it is important to contact your medical care provider as soon as possible, as there are viable treatments for many common causes of dysfunction.

What Are Some Of The Most Common Causes Of Sexual Dysfunction?

Physical causes:

Various physical and medical conditions can affect your sexual function, such as diabetes, heart disease, blood clotting disorders, neurological disorders, hormonal imbalances, and chronic medical issues such as organ failure, alcoholism, and unsafe drug use.

Another potential factor to be aware of is the side effects of certain prescription and over-the-counter medications, such as antidepressants, as they can significantly hamper your libido and inhibit sexual function.

Psychological causes:

Psychological causes occur mentally, with common causes including work-related stress, anxiety, sexual performance anxiety, marital or relationship problems, depression, body image issues, and the lingering effects of past trauma.

What Are The Best Treatments For Sexual Dysfunction?

There is a wide range of treatments available for sexual dysfunction, regardless of whether your issues are physiological or psychological.

Once you determine the cause of your sexual dysfunction, there are medications, treatments, and professional assistance at your disposal, depending on the source of your issue.

It is important to remember that when taking multiple medications, the risk of sexual side effects exponentially increases.

Medication:

When a medication is the cause of the dysfunction, adjusting your dosage or removing the medication from your routine are highly effective solutions.

If you experience some form of hormone deficiency, there are numerous approaches, including hormone shots, pills, or creams, depending on your budget and preference.

Some of the most effective drugs for treating sexual dysfunction in men have been: sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, and avanafil, all of which are proven to help revitalize your sexual performance by drawing increased blood flow to your penis.

While sexual dysfunction medications for women are rather scarce, there are two medications prescribed for premenopausal women and approved by the FDA to treat low desire: flibanserin and bremelanotide.

If your issues continue to persist regardless of medication attempts, it may be time to move on to our next method, utilizing mechanical aids.

Mechanical aids:

Aids such as vacuum devices and penile implants may help men with erectile dysfunction (the inability to achieve or maintain an erection).

A vacuum device can also be used for women, however, these variations are much more expensive.

In addition, dilators may help women who suffer from narrow vaginal canals.

Genital stimulation devices like vibrators can be helpful to help improve sexual enjoyment and climax.

Sex Therapy:

Sex therapists are great at helping people experiencing sexual problems that aren’t normally able to be addressed by their primary clinician.

If your partner is suffering from sexual dysfunction, visiting a licensed sex therapist may be exactly what your relationship needs to revitalize your life in the bedroom.

Behavioral Treatments:

These involve various techniques, including insights into harmful behaviors in the relationship, or techniques such as self-stimulation for treatment of problems with arousal and/or orgasm.

Encouraging Effective Communication：

Education about safe sex and appropriate behaviors may help you overcome anxieties about sexual function.

Open dialogue with your partner about your needs and concerns also helps overcome many barriers to healthy sex life.

When Should I Contact My Doctor?

While nearly every man has experienced sexual dysfunction at some point, whether it be due to stress, performance anxiety, or some other factor, frequent issues with sexual performance may be an indicator of a much more serious issue.

According to urologist Larry Lipshultz, MD, failing during half or more of your sexual encounters could be an indicator of erectile dysfunction or some other sexual performance issue.

How Are Physiological Causes Treated?

Guided imagery therapy has shown promising results in treating patients with sexual dysfunction due to physiological causes.

One study found that over 70% of men treated with guided imagery and sexual re-education succeeded in overcoming their sexual dysfunction and were able to get and sustain an erection.

While treatment may not be as simple depending on your condition (if any), new solutions for sexual dysfunction are being developed constantly.

Treating psychological causes:

Often, the longer a sexual dysfunction goes on, the more your level of stress and anxiety rises, which can just make your problem worse.

While severe psychological issues and trauma may take longer to manage, or in some cases, may be impossible to fully resolve, you can still take steps towards improving your health.

One of the most important factors to remember is the importance of communication. 

Feelings of embarrassment, while normal, are not necessary. 

If believe you are suffering from some form of sexual dysfunction, it may be time to consult with a doctor.

Don’t be afraid to seek a medical professional if necessary.

If you are a victim of sexual assault and continue to experience the effects of the traumatic event, The National Institutes of Health urges you to seek counseling as soon as possible.

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