Female Sexual Dysfunction
Many people still believe that sex tends to be a physical or visual experience for men, and a mental or cerebral experience for women. As a result, when women experience problems with sex, they may be asked about their mental state of mind.
The truth, however, is that sex is a physical experience for women as well as men, and that the reasons behind female sexual dysfunction (FSD) can just as often be attributed to physical issues.
If you are a woman whose sex life has just lost its spark because your body feels unresponsive or uncomfortable, take comfort in the fact that you are not alone: Approximately 4 out of 10 women will experience the same thing at some point in their life.
If you have persistent or recurrent problems with sexual response — and if these problems are making you distressed or straining your relationship with your partner — you may have what is known medically as female sexual dysfunction. The good news, however, is that once the right cause of female sexual dysfunction is diagnosed, the problem is often easily remedied.
Although female sexual dysfunction can occur at any age, FSD often presents itself at times when the body’s hormones are in flux, such as pregnancy or menopause. Sexual problems can also occur alongside major illnesses, including cancer.
Symptoms of FSD can include the following:
- Low or absent desire for sex (low or no libido)
- Problems maintaining arousal during sexual activity, or lack of arousal despite a desire to have sex
- Inability to experience or difficulty experiencing orgasm
- Pain during sexual contact
This information is not intended to substitute the recommendations of your healthcare providers. Women’s Health Foundation disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.
