Female Sexual Dysfunctions: When Sex Is Not
Satisfactory
A sexual dysfunctionexists when the sexual response cycle manifests one of its
stages in an abnormal, unsatisfactory manner. The word dysfunctionmeans, loosely,
“working wrong.” The various sexual dysfunctions are characterized by such
problems as lack of sexual desire, inability to become sexually excited, inability to
attain an orgasm, and other related problems. Either sex can be troubled with a
sexual dysfunction.
There are three sexual dysfunctions associated primarily with females: (1) female
sexual arousal disorder, (2) female orgasmic disorder, and (3) vaginismus. Female
sexual arousal disorderexists when the female does not respond to the kind of
stimulation that is otherwise expected to induce excitement. An older term for this
disorder, now considered to be obsolete, is frigidity.The female may herself be
either surprised or distressed by the inability of her partner’s efforts to bring forth
the first stage of the sexual response cycle.(a) A sexual dysfunction exists when the sexual response cycle manifests one of its stages in
an , unsatisfactory manner.(b) What disorder exists when the female does not respond to the kind of stimulation that
is otherwise expected to induce excitement?(c) What is an older, obsolete term for the above disorder?Answers: (a) abnormal; (b) Female sexual arousal disorder; (b) Frigidity.Female orgasmic disorderexists when the female is seldom, or never, able
to attain an orgasm during sexual activity. A female suffering from the disorder
often experiences a normal level of excitement. This leads to a prolonged plateau
period, and then excitement subsides without the satisfaction of an orgasm. The
individual feels she was on the verge of an orgasm, but it can’t seem to be trig-
gered. Females regularly report the experiences associated with the disorder to be
frustrating and disconcerting.
Vaginismusexists when the muscle associated with the vaginal entrance
cramps, making entry into the channel both difficult and painful.
The causal factors associated with the female disorders include poor health,
chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalances, anxiety, feelings of guilt and shame, disgust
with sexual activity, fear of pregnancy, an unresolved Oedipus complex, emotional
conflicts, boredom with a particular partner, and hostility toward a particular partner.
The factors both overlap and interact. When physicians and therapists treat a sexual
disorder, the individual history of a particular patient must be taken into account.
There is no one general, sweeping explanation for a particular person’s suffering.178 PSYCHOLOGY