Female Sexual Dysfunction
You can develop female sexual dysfunction at any age, but sexual problems are most common when your hormones are in flux — for example, when you've just had a baby or when you're making the transition into menopause. Sexual concerns may also occur with major illness, such as cancer. Much has been written about the sometimes elusive female orgasm. It is a myth that women who can't achieve orgasm during intercourse have a problem. Although some women can reach orgasm during intercourse, many women find it easier and actually prefer to achieve orgasm through oral or manual stimulation of the clitoris. female sexual dysfunction makes it more difficult to be stimulated to orgasm by intercourse than does the male anatomy. These differences between men and women with regard to orgasm often lead to expectations and misinterpretation of meaning associated with response during intercourse.
A sexual problem, or female sexual dysfunction, refers to a problem during any phase of the sexual response cycle that prevents the individual or couple from experiencing satisfaction from the sexual activity. The sexual response cycle has four phases: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. The most common problems related to female sexual dysfunction in women include:
Inhibited sexual desire. This involves a lack of sexual desire or interest in sex. Many factors can contribute to female sexual dysfunction, including hormonal changes, medical conditions and treatments (for example cancer and chemotherapy), depression, pregnancy, stress, and fatigue. Boredom with regular sexual routines also may contribute to a lack of enthusiasm for sex, as can lifestyle factors, such as careers and the care of children.
Inability to become aroused. For women, the inability to become physically aroused during sexual activity often involves insufficient vaginal lubrication. The inability to become aroused also may be related to anxiety or inadequate stimulation. In addition, female sexual dysfunction researchers are investigating how blood flow problems affecting the vagina and clitoris may contribute to arousal problems.
Many women experience female sexual dysfunction at some stage in their life. Here's a look at some forms of female sexual dysfunction and where to go for help if Female Sexual Dysfunction affects you. According to The Sexual Dysfunction Association, sexual problems affect around 50% of women and become more common as women get older. Dysfunction can include loss of desire, loss of arousal, problems with orgasm and pain during sex.
To find the cause of female sexual dysfunction, a doctor or therapist will need to ask you questions about your medical, sexual and social history. Your GP can carry out tests for underlying medical conditions. If your problem is related to lack of hormones (such as testosterone or oestrogen) hormone replacement therapy can help.
Hormones play an important role in regulating sexual function in women. With the decrease in the female hormone estrogen that is related to aging and menopause, many women experience some changes in sexual function as they age, including poor vaginal lubrication and decreased genital sensation. Further, research suggests that low levels of the male hormone testosterone also contribute to a decline in sexual arousal, genital sensation, and orgasm. Researchers still are investigating the benefits of hormones and other medications, including drugs like Viagra, to treat sexual problems in women
To both treat and prevent female sexual dysfunction, women should understand how their sex organs work and how they can respond. Knowing the best ways to stimulate the clitoris and to enhance vaginal sensations throughout life is very helpful and can be learned through information and education that can be found in books and booklets that discuss normal anatomy, sexual function, and normal changes of aging. Activities like "Kegel exercises" involve repeated clenching of the vaginal muscles and improving muscle tone, as well as a sense of control and the quality of orgasm. This is one technique of many that women of every age can use in order to enhance sexual pleasure.
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