Sexual aversion disorder

A person who actively avoids and has a persistent or recurrent extreme aversion to genital sexual contact with a sexual partner may have sexual aversion disorder. in order to be considered a disorder, the aversion to sex must be a cause of difficulty in the person's sexual relationship. The individual with sexual aversion disorder usually reports anxiety, fear, or disgust when given the opportunity to be involved sexually. Touching and kissing may even be avoided. Extreme anxiety such as panic attacks may actually occur. it is not unusual for a person to feel nauseated, dizzy, or faint.

it can cause extreme relationship difficulties. This condition may affect women who have experienced some type of sexual abuse, or who grew up in a rigid atmosphere in which sex was taboo. A study in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior found that among patients with panic disorder, 75 percent had sexual problems, and that sexual aversion disorder was the most common complaint, affecting 50 percent of women with the disorder. if an individual experiences unpleasant consequences with normal sexual activity, an aversion to sex may occur, resulting in the development of deviant behavior. An example of this would be a young boy who is humiliated and punished by his parents for proudly displaying his erect penis. As the boy matures he may associate guilt and shame with normal sexual behavior.

Treatment involves sex therapy which my include psychological and behavior therapy. Treatment would involve discovering and resolving underlying conflict or life difficulties.