General Sexual Dysfunction is defined as a women’s inability to have pleasure from sexual stimulation. Exam why and how to help treat this sexual problem.

This can range from a little pleasure to no pleasure at all. General Sexual Dysfunctions should be seen as more of a woman’s dissatisfaction sexually. It is based on a number of factors: biological, physiological, psychological, and cultural.

This dysfunction can be seen in two ways. One, as a woman who has never experienced pleasure with any partner in her entire life is likely to have Primary Anorgasmia. Often women with this dysfunction will do whatever is necessary to avoid sexual contact. Secondary Anorgasmia consists of women who are not currently responding to sexual stimuli, but have in the past with either that partner or another partner or self-stimulated. This second type of dysfunction can be isolated to only certain situations or may be related to a particular person.

Women who experience General Sexual Dysfunction have little to no pleasure from sexual stimulation. A woman experiencing this dysfunction will have little to no natural lubricant as well as little to no genital sexual response.

Many women will continue to have sexual contact even though there are no pleasurable feelings. They may do this to maintain appearances in their marriage or out of self-expectation. Many women will have strong negative feelings regarding sex, their partner(s), and themselves. They will usually find reasons or make up excuses to avoid sexual contact.

The normal sexual aroused state requires a relaxed mindset. This visceral response is regulated by the autonomic nervous system. If the autonomic nervous system is upset, it can cause negative emotions, reshifting of the blood flow (away from the abdomen and genitals), as well as spastic muscles. A number of these issues can affect the excitement and plateau stages of female sexual response. Thus, making it difficult, if not impossible, to respond sexually.

The psychological aspect of General Sexual Dysfunction is also important. The perspectives a person has regarding sex will impact their sexual response and satisfaction. Sexual response is a biological function, but it is also dependant on psychological factors. If most women who have this dysfunction are unresponsive to sexual contact, the thought of such contact is stressful. That anxiety and attitude will help keep the non-responsive behavior. Fearing an inability to reach orgasm, judgment of a partner, or reluctance to communicate needs can all create emotional reactions that impair sexual response.

Treating All Sexual Dysfunctions

It is important to go and see a physician and psychologist/clinician to help determine if a woman has a sexual dysfunction. A physician would help to determine that the female sexual response cycle is not inhibited by any physical factors. Sometime hormone replacement therapy may be necessary if her hormone levels are less than normal. If there is a blood flow problem, then some vascular treatments may be done. Creams to handheld devices may be used to increase blood flow. Also, nerve-related loss in the genitals may be present and addressed.

A sexologist, sex therapist, or psychologist would help determine the psychological factors that may be aiding in the sexual dysfunction. The evaluation would include looking at your past and current sexual practices, as well as providing educational tasks to assist in treating the dysfunction. All female sexual dysfunctions benefit from a clinicians education of female sexual response cycle, environmental stimulation, as well as promoting self-knowledge regarding sexual practices.

Treating the Psychological - General Sexual Dysfunctions

A general psychological or sexologist evaluation would consist of helping the woman change her sexual environment. The need for a relaxing, non-demanding, sensual environment is necessary for the natural progression of sexual response. The obstacles that prevent relaxation and sexual response need to be determined and removed to help foster sexual desire, response, and pleasure.

Often steps are taken in therapy to work towards sexual response. It may start out with sensate focused experiments, or general body massage. This is a good way to help associate touch to a positive experience. 

The exercises will generally progress to genital stimulation. Then to non-demanding (or no expectation of orgasm) sex are used as tools to help women. All of the practice will be done privately at-home, but the discussion in therapy and often slow progression of exercises will help treat General Sexual Dysfunction.