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Female Sexual Dysfunction

Just like men, women can experience difficulties in desiring and participating in sex with their partners. Recent research suggests that approximately 40% of women may be affected by some sexual dysfunction. Such women may have never felt sexually excited or had an orgasm. What was once a pleasurable experience shared by a couple may now be a painful act which can lead to dissatisfaction, unhappiness and consequently have a serious impact on the quality of life of the couple. Many women find great difficulty in talking about sexual difficulties with their partner and many more women fail to seek treatment due to shame, embarrassment or fear that health professionals will misunderstand them. Sex becomes a problem only if one partner feels unhappy about it. Couples often experience periods of "ups and downs" and their frequency of lovemaking may vary greatly. For one couple it may not matter if they do not engage in regular penetrative sex whereas for another couple this may present considerable distress to one or both of them. As with men, there are many factors that can contribute to sexual problems for women, some of which may be of psychological origin but others which may be due to physical causes. Recent research indicates that there are more physical (or biological) causes for "sexual dysfunction than were recognised before." Certain medical conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis and "certain prescription drugs may be linked with dysfunction."

Inhibited Desire Disorder

Lack of ability to orgasm

Pain on intercourse (dyspareunia)

Vaginismus

Sex & Ageing: Women's Issues