Sexual Disorder and Diseases

SYMPTOMS

Men or women:

Inability to feel aroused

Lack of interest in sex (loss of libido)

Pain with intercourse (much less common in men than women)

Men :

Delay or absence of ejaculation, despite adequate stimulation

Inability to control timing of ejaculation

Inability to get an erection

Inability to keep an erection adequately for intercourse

Women:

Burning pain on the vulva or in the vagina with contact to those areas

Inability to reach orgasm

Inability to relax vaginal muscles enough to allow intercourse

Inadequate vaginal lubrication before and during intercourse

Low libido due to physical/hormonal problems, psychological problems, or relationship problems

SIGNS AND TESTS

These are usually done by a healthcare provider. This should include a complete history and physical exam. The physical exam should not be limited to the genital only, it should cover the whole body to discover if there are any other medical problems associated with this. The goal of these signs and tests are:

Highlight possible fears, anxieties, or guilt specific to sexual behaviors or performance,

Identify predisposing illness or conditions,

Uncover any history of prior sexual trauma.

TREATMENT

Treatment depends on the cause of the sexual dysfunction. Medical causes that are reversible or treatable are usually managed medically or surgically. Psychological causes managed by counseling and psychiatric treatment. This is covered under individual topic.

PREVENTION

Open, informative, and accurate communication regarding sexual issues and body image between parents and their children may prevent children from developing anxiety or guilt about sex, and may help them develop healthy sexual relationships.

Avoiding drug and alcohol abuse will also help prevent sexual dysfunction. Prescription drugs causing sexual disorders should be checked and possibly replaced with other drugs without these side effects.

Couples who are open and honest about their sexual preferences and feelings are more likely to avoid some sexual dysfunction. One partner should, ideally, be able to communicate desires and preferences to the other partner. If some or a partner has some issues in the sexual life, then instead of fighting or avoiding those issues, it is better to bring them for sex therapy. This can eliminate a lot of reasons which couples do no pay attention but with an expert's help in a session of sex therapy can be taken care of.

People with a history of sexual trauma, such as sexual abuse or rape at any age, are helped by individual counseling with a sex therapy expert in trauma in allowing sexual abuse victims to overcome sexual difficulties and enjoy the life with a chosen partner.

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