When a woman experiences hurdles in emotional and physical wellness related to sexual health, her experience during intimacy involves not just discomfort, pain, but stress as well. Together, several factors contribute to female sexual dysfunction (FSD), but there are treatment options available.
From issues such as lack of physical arousal, delayed or early climax, pain during intercourse, or low sex drive in women, the FSD includes a variety of experiences. In this blog, we will study each of these in detail, along with their causes, and solutions.
What is Female Sexual Dysfunction?
FSD combines several issues that persist and create displeasure for women. These are related to problems during sexual arousal, response, desire, vaginal penetration, and orgasm. Along with that, strained relationships, stress, and emotional troubles play a part in worsening of FSD. Here are the types of FSD and their symptoms:
1. Sexual Pain Disorder (Dyspareunia and Vaginismus)
Pain while sexual intercourse may happen due to Dyspareunia. This condition is defined by continuous or recurrent genital pain associated at the time of sexual intercourse. Another condition, vaginismus, leads to painful and involuntary spasms at the pelvic floor muscles at the external part of the vagina. This does not let the person engage in vaginal penetration due to intense pain.
2. Orgasmic Disorder (Anorgasmia)
Those with female sexual dysfunction may find it difficult to get an orgasm. The individual may encounter delays during climaxing or complete lack of it even if the person is properly aroused and sexually stimulated.
3. Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
Infrequent loss of desire for intimacy is considered normal. However, continuous low sex drive in women disrupts sexual activity. Also, the person may show low response to physical intimacy, and an absence of sexual fantasies, imagination, and thoughts.
4. Sexual Arousal Disorder
It is possible for a woman to physically anticipate intimacy even if they may want it mentally. The symptoms include problems achieving or maintaining vaginal lubrication, failing to experience genital warmth and engorgement, or lacking sexual sensitivity and response.
The Causes of Female Sexual Dysfunction
The primary causes of female sexual dysfunction may not always be one factor, but simultaneous occurrences at once. Here are the main root triggers:
· Hormonal Imbalance: Estrogen levels may drop during menopause or perimenopause. Or, the vaginal tissues may become thinner during postpartum breastfeeding, leading to lack of or reduced lubrication, and elasticity.
· Psychological and Emotional Factors: High levels of the stress hormone, cortisol may interfere with optimum levels of sex hormones. Other culprits are sexual trauma or abuse, depression, anxiety, body image insecurities, performance anxiety, etc.
· Health Conditions: Impaired blood circulation and disrupted nerve signals may affect sexual responsiveness. These may occur due to cardiac disease, diabetes, endometriosis, multiple sclerosis, thyroid disorders, etc.
· Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: If the pelvic floor muscles are too tight, it may generate severe pain during sexual intercourse. Physical sensations may also take a hit if the pelvic floor muscles are weak.
· Relationship Conflicts: Problems in intimacy can also happen due to relationship conflicts like trust issues, mismatch of sexual expectations between partners, libido gaps, lack of communication, etc. These may also lead to low sex drive in women and FSD.
· Medication Side Effects: Some medicines may negatively affect the neurotransmitter activity and blood circulation. These are SSRIs and SNRIs for reducing depression, beta-blockers for high blood pressure, and certain oral contraceptives that reduce desire due to reducing testosterone.
FSD and Their Treatment Options
Here are some female sexual dysfunction treatment alternatives:
· Hormonal Correction: To improve vaginal elasticity and get rid of vaginal atrophy, hormonal therapies are available. For instance, to enhance natural lubrication, you may use topical estrogen creams or rings.
· Oral Medicines: To treat low sex drive in women, oral PDE5 inhibitors and dopamine / serotonin boosters like Flibanserin, Ladygra, Lovegra, and other medicines are there.
· Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises: To improve pelvic muscle relaxation to combat pain and to make these muscles strong for better sensation, you may undertake pelvic floor physical exercises like Kegels.
· Psychological and Other Therapies: To address sex related trauma, anxiety and performance related expectations, sex therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are some options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the FAQs about female sexual dysfunction and disorders:
1. What is the most common cause of FSD?
The common FSD causes are chronic stress, performance anxiety, hormonal changes, medicine side effects, poor blood circulation, relationship conflicts, and psychological issues.
2. Can menopausal changes cause pain during intimate activity?
A drop in estrogen levels during perimenopause or menopause affects natural lubrication. It also makes the vaginal tissues thinner, impacting intercourse, and making the experience more painful.
3. How does pelvic floor physical therapy help with FSD?
Pelvic exercises strengthen the local muscles and improve the related blood flow, reducing pain during sex and increasing sexual sensation physically.
4. Are there medications approved to increase low female libido and sexual responsiveness?
Medicines like Lovegra, Ladygra, Flibanserin, and others are available to treat vascular issues and low sex drive in women to improve intimacy.
5. When should a woman consult a doctor about sexual difficulties?
Women may consult a sex therapist if they encounter difficulties during lovemaking – like painful intercourse, lack of libido or arousal, delay in climax, and other related issues.