Sexual Disorders

Sexual disorders or sexual dysfunction disorders are problems linked to sexual response, sexual arousal, sexual desire or an orgasm. Sexual disorders are not those one – off problems but are frequent and recurrent. This can be very stressful for an individual or his or her partner and very often can create problems in relationships. These disorders can be broadly classified into four types of sexual arousal disorders, sexual desire disorders, sexual pain disorders and orgasm disorders. The sexual disorders list is quite long and the disorders are very often classified as psychological sexual disorders. Some of them include paraphilias, frotteurism, sexual masochism, sexual sadism, fetishism and voyeurism.

Sexual disorders in men are different from those in women. However the causes may be similar and are either physiological or psychological. Depression, interpersonal problems, lifestyle factors such as tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse, illnesses, certain medications, injury, anxiety, stress or sometimes associating a feeling of guilt and fear of sex are the different sexual disorder causes.

The common sexual disorders symptoms are lack of arousal, lack of desire and a feeling of dissatisfaction after intercourse. In women lack of vaginal lubrication and incapacity to relax the muscles of the vagina are common signs. In men lack of ejaculation or delayed ejaculation or the penis becoming flaccid during intercourse are frequent symptoms.

Sexual disorders in women are female sexual arousal disorder, female orgasmic disorder, dyspareunia, hypoactive sexual desire disorder and sexual aversion disorder. Female sexual arousal disorder is when the woman is not able to complete intercourse due to lack of lubrication. Female orgasmic disorder is the inability to derive an orgasm from intercourse. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder is a marked lack of sexual desire or libido. A sexual aversion disorder is when a person is averse to sexual intercourse and therefore does everything possible to avoid it. As for dyspareunia, it is more common in women and it essentially a sexual pain disorder, that is pain in the genitals during intercourse.

In men the main disorders are male erectile disorder, erectile dysfunction, male orgasmic disorder, premature ejaculation, sexual aversion disorder, sexual desire disorder and dyspareunia. Male erectile disorder is a disorder where the man is unable to maintain an erect penis during intercourse. In an erectile dysfunction is often inability to have an erection. It is also known as impotence. Male orgasmic disorder is marked by inability to achieve an orgasm. Premature ejaculation is ejaculation that occurs too soon, that is, the slightest sexual stimulation makes the man ejaculate. Dyspareunia occurs in a few males as well although women are more prone to this disorder. Sexual aversion disorder and sexual desire disorder are common to both men and women. It is not easy to define sexual disorders in children. Gender Identity Disorders are the most common sexual disorders in kids. Sometimes kids develop a strong obsession towards the opposite sex parents which often fades away. Freud termed these Oedipus complex and Elektra complex.

Luckily, sexual disorders treatment is not hard to find. For problems related to men, treatment may include psychotherapy if the cause is anxiety or stress related. In case of problems in a relationship or marriage, marriage counseling can be an effective form of therapy. Lifestyle changes can also play an important role in treating these problems. Medications to treat erectile dysfunction also exist. Yet their effectiveness is not completely proven. For women, treatment can include therapy, counseling, hormone therapy, pain relievers, lubricants and desensitizers and the use of medical devices.

A sexual disorder must under no circumstances be ignored. Lovemaking is important for a healthy relationship and these problems need immediate attention and need to be treated accordingly.

Submitted on January 16, 2014