Sexual Dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction is a difficulty at any phase of the sexual cycle that prevents the individual or the couple from normal sexual activity which includes desire,arousal or orgasm.Sexual dysfunction is common and people hesitate to discuss about it without realizing its importance specially for infertility. When issue of fertility arises it is noted that 31% of men and 43% of women has atleast one symptom of sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction occurs when there is a problem with your health,ideas, relationship or pain during sex (which is common for women).
What are the types of sexual dysfunction?
Sexual dysfunction is divided into four categories:
- Desire disorders The lack of sexual desire or interest in sex
- Arousal disorders The inability to become physically aroused during sexual activity
- Orgasm disorders The delay or absence of orgasm (climax)
- Pain disorders Pain during intercourse (This condition mostly affects women.)
What are the symptoms of sexual dysfunction?
In men:
- Erectile dysfunction- This is very common in men where the penis does not become or stay firm during sexual intercourse
- Ejaculatory Dysfunction- Delayed or absence of ejaculation which occurs when a man cannot release semen during orgasm
- Inability to control the timing of ejaculation (premature or retarded ejaculation)
In women:
- Vaginismus – The muscles around the vagina go for spasm and cause the vagina to close.
- Inadequate vaginal lubrication before and during intercourse
- Inability to achieve orgasm
- Low sexual desire
What causes sexual dysfunction?
There are two main causes for sexual dysfunction that is physical cause and psychological cause.
The physical cause includes medical conditions like diabetes, heart and vascular disease, hormonal imbalance, neurological disorders, chronic diseases like kidney or liver failure, alcoholism and drug abuse.
Psychological causes like stress in work place and anxiety, marital relationship problem, depression, concern about sexual performance, feelings of guilt.
How sexual dysfunction is diagnosed by doctor?
Your doctor will start with complete physical examination and your past and present history .The hormones in our body play a significant role in the sexual life where the increase or decrease level of hormones affect the sexual life. Your doctor may order for some diagnostic test to rule out any medical problems that related to your dysfunction. This will help the doctor to understand the cause of the problem and to make appropriate treatment.
The doctor may ask you many questions regarding to your sexual life and also evaluate the person’s attitude regarding sex as well as other possible factors like fear, anxiety, past sexual trauma, relationship problems, alcohol or drug abuse. If the patient suffers from psychological problem with sex life or partner he/ she may be referred to sexologist.
How is sexual dysfunction treated?
Most of the sexual dysfunction can be treated as follows
Medications : Hormone deficiency for both men and women can be corrected with hormone drugs or shots or cream. Drugs may be suggested to improve the sexual function by increasing blood flow to the penis.
Behavioural treatments : In this various techniques are involved eg: self stimulation helps to treat the problem like arousal or orgasm.
Psychotherapy: Therapy with a trained counsellor can help a person address feelings of anxiety, fear or guilt as well as poor body image that may have an impact on sexual function.
Education and communication: People feel shy to discuss about sex . To over come from fear, anxiety, guilt they have to be educated to talk openly with the partner about the need and concern. This will help to overcome many barriers to a healthy sex life.
Sexual dysfunction and infertility
Many couples with infertility problems also have sexual problems like erectile dysfunction, pain during sex. Due to pain they avoid sex and obliviously no pregnancy without sex. Good sex is important when planning for baby. If you have sex once in a while due to pain or erectile dysfunction you may miss that important time for pregnancy. If you are trying to conceive and either know that infertility is an issue or suspect that it is, there are few things you can do to make the situation a little easier. In addition to some basic tips while trying to get pregnant it is also worth taking some time to think about how the infertility is affecting your sex life and talk with your partner about your concerns.
Effects of Infertility Treatment In Sex Life
When you undergo the fertility treatment you may need to take some medications which you may not like that may make it harder to have sex..As one of the treatment you may be asked to have sex at sometime even if you are not interested. These things may be bad for the couple’s sexual relationship and may lead to sexual dysfunction too. If you experience this during your infertility treatment you should definitely discuss with your doctor .
QUESTIONS
1. What is meant by healthy sexual relationship?
It is different for every couple as every individual has different sexual needs.In general both partners should feel equally pleased with the activities, neither partner should feel forced into doing something they don’t want to do. The right to say “no” to sex at any time, for any reason, Mutual respect before and after sex, neither party suffers a loss of self-esteem, trust exists as well as openness about sexual history and current activities.
2. Why does some women have painful intercourse?
80% of women have painful intercourse due to decrease in female hormones. Another type known as vaginismus that causes involuntary spasm of the muscles within the vagina.
3. what age does erectile dysfunction start affecting men?
In younger age group it is of psychological origin and in older age group it is more likely to be of organic or physical origin
4. which medication cause sexual dysfunction for both men and women?
For both men and women antidepressant drugs, high pressure drugs may cause sexual dysfunctions. Drugs like antihistamine, non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, some lipid lowering drugs, and some medications used for parkinson’s disease and cancer may increase the risk of impotency in men.
5. If I lose weight and stop smoking will my erectile dysfunction get better?
The answer is yes. Risk factor modification and lifestyle changes can dramatically improve and even cure many of the existing conditions that contribute to erectile dysfunction.Erection will begin to return and can actually return to normal in men with significant weight loss.
