Sexual Health and Female Sexual Dysfunction

“The question of being troubled is key when it comes to
any potential sexual disorder, since the issue is not
the sexual “problem or condition itself but whether…”.1

Umbrella
What may the Sexual Health and Female Sexual Dysfunction Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD)
  • Frigidity
  • Sexual Dysfunction In Females/Women
  • Sexual Problems In Females/Women

Definition

What is female sexual dysfunction (FSD)?

DotS the definition of FSD may vary. In Female Sexual Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“Persistent, recurrent problems with sexual response, desire, orgasm or pain — that distress you or strain your relationship with your partner — are known medically as sexual dysfunction”.2

FSD or Not

If a woman is not troubled by her sex life, does she have FSD?

In Sexual Health & Menopause Online: Sexual Problems At Midlife – Does the Problem Bother You or Your Partner? the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) explain:

“The question of being troubled is key when it comes to any potential sexual disorder, since the issue is not the sexual “problem” or condition itself but whether it is bothersome or troubling to the person or partners involved. For instance, if both partners in a couple are content to live without an active sex life, then a condition such as vaginal dryness or erectile difficulty does not really represent sexual dysfunction. Similarly, a woman who notices some decline in sexual desire over time may not be troubled by it if she is not in a relationship. However, if she meets a partner with high libido, she may start to see her low sex drive as a problem”.3

Types

What are some types of FSD?

In Female Sexual Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms the Mayo Clinic explain:

“Symptoms vary depending on what type of sexual dysfunction you’re experiencing:

  • Low sexual desire. This most common of female sexual dysfunctions involves a lack of sexual interest and willingness to be sexual
  • Sexual arousal disorder. Your desire for sex might be intact, but you have difficulty with arousal or are unable to become aroused or maintain arousal during sexual activity
  • Orgasmic disorder. You have persistent or recurrent difficulty in achieving orgasm after sufficient sexual arousal and ongoing stimulation
  • Sexual pain disorder. You have pain associated with sexual stimulation or vaginal contact”.4

Anorgasmia

What is anorgasmia?

DotS the definition of anorgasmia may vary. The Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“Anorgasmia is delayed, infrequent or absent orgasms — or significantly less-intense orgasms — after sexual arousal and adequate sexual stimulation. Women who have problems with orgasms and who feel significant distress about those problems may be diagnosed with anorgasmia”.5

Is there an association between anorgasmia and aging?

In Anorgasmia In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Causes: Physical Causes the Mayo Clinic explain:

  • “Age-Related Changes To the Body Changes to the body after menopause or later in life may contribute to various types of sexual dysfunction”.6

Is anorgasmia a concern?

In Anorgasmia In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Talk to your health care provider if you have concerns about your sex life, especially if you’re concerned about your ability to have an orgasm”.7

FSD Common or Not

Sexual Health and Female Sexual DysfunctionHow common is FSD?

In Sexual Dysfunction the (United States) Cleveland Clinic note in October 2020:

“Some 43% of women and 31% of men report some degree of sexual dysfunction”.8

FSD Cause

What causes FSD?

In Female Sexual Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview: Causes the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Sexual problems often develop when your hormones are in flux, such as after having a baby or during menopause. Major illness, such as cancer, diabetes, or heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease, can also contribute to sexual dysfunction.

MenopauseFactors — often interrelated — that contribute to sexual dissatisfaction or dysfunction include:

  • Physical…
  • Hormonal…
  • Psychological and social…”.9

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have FSD?

If you think you have FSD and this troubles you, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Sexual Health & Menopause Online: Talking To Your Healthcare Provider About Your Problem the NAMS reassure:

“If your provider asks about your sex life or sexual function, don’t miss the opportunity to be frank and look for help. More important, if your provider doesn’t ask specifically about your sexual function, don’t be afraid to bring up a distressing sexual problem yourself when you’re asked, “How are you feeling?” Most providers today are comfortable addressing such a problem; if your provider is not, consider looking for another.

There is absolutely no need to suffer (or let your relationship suffer) in silence”.10

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Sexual Health and Female Sexual Dysfunction?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Sexual Health and Female Sexual Dysfunction?

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Links

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New or Updated

  1. Adverse Childhood Experiences and Sexual Dysfunction In Midlife Women: Is There A Link?
  2. Anorgasmia In Women
  3. BMS Statement on Testosterone
  4. BMS TV: Menopause Explained
  5. BMS TV: Testosterone Explained
  6. BMS TV: Urogenital Atrophy
  7. Dyspareunia (Painful Intercourse)
  8. Endometrial Safety of Low-Dose Vaginal Estrogens
  9. Endometrial Safety of Low-Dose Vaginal Estrogens [Video]
  10. Expert Tips To Boost Your Libido
  11. FAQS [Vaginismus]
  12. FAQs: When Sex Is Painful
  13. Female Genital Cutting
  14. Female Genital Mutilation
  15. Female Orgasm: No Climax With Vaginal Penetration?
  16. Female Reproductive System [Topics]
  17. Female Sexual Dysfunction: Diagnosis & Treatment
  18. Female Sexual Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes
  19. Hormonal Health – Clues Made Clear
  20. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen
  21. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  22. How To Get Help With Your Sexual Health
  23. Information for Partners
  24. International Society for Sexual Medicine
  25. International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Diseases: Patient Handouts
  26. International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health
  27. International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health Clinical Practice Guideline for the Use of Systemic Testosterone for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder In Women
  28. International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health: Find A Provider
  29. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Sexual Wellbeing, Intimacy and Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Is the End of Your Sex Life]
  30. Let’s Talk Low Libido
  31. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
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  36. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  37. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Common Conditions Associated With Menopause and Midlife
  38. Menopause Ruining Your Sex Life?
  39. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  40. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  41. Menopause and Sexuality
  42. Menopause: Symptoms & Causes
  43. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  44. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  45. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  46. National Sexual Violence Resource Center
  47. National Sexual Violence Resource Center: Directory of Organizations
  48. Navigating Menopause Together: How Partners Can Help
  49. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  50. Orgasmic Dysfunction In Women
  51. Painful Intercourse (Dyspareunia)
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  53. Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health: Guide To Sexual Health Providers
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  74. Testosterone Therapy In Women: Does It Boost Sex Drive?
  75. The Orgasm Gap and Why Women Climax Less Than Men
  76. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  77. The Vulva: Irritation, Diagnosis & Treatment – Booklet
  78. Therapy for the Effects of Menopause
  79. Types of Sexual Dysfunction In Women
  80. Vagina: What’s Typical, What’s Not
  81. Vaginal Dryness
  82. Vaginal Dryness
  83. Vaginal Dryness
  84. Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It? I’m postmenopausal and often have vaginal dryness, which makes intercourse painful. Is there anything I can do about it?
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  86. Vaginal Dryness: What To Do About It
  87. Video Series-2022: Discussing Sexual Health Concerns With Your Health Care Professional
  88. Video Series-2023: Changes In Sexual Health After Cancer
  89. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  90. “We’re Just Tired”: Influences on Sexual Activity Among Male-Partnered Women In Midlife; A Mixed Method Study
  91. Webinars: Previous – Pay Attention on Your Way In! The Vulva Is An Important Organ Too
  92. What Can Cause Orgasm Problems In Women?
  93. What Happens If A Woman Takes Viagra?
  94. What Is Normal Sex?
  95. What Is Vulvodynia?
  96. When Sex Hurts – Podcast [Vaginismus and Vulvodynia]
  97. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Sexual Health & Menopause Online: Sexual Problems At Midlife – Does the Problem Bother You or Your Partner? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/sexual-health-menopause-online/sexual-problems-at-midlife Accessed: 15 November 2023
  2. Female Sexual Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 17 December 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/female-sexual-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20372549 Accessed: 15 November 2023
  3. Sexual Health & Menopause Online: Sexual Problems At Midlife – Does the Problem Bother You or Your Partner? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/sexual-health-menopause-online/sexual-problems-at-midlife Accessed: 15 November 2023
  4. Female Sexual Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 17 December 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/female-sexual-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20372549 Accessed: 15 November 2023
  5. Anorgasmia In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 30 April 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorgasmia/symptoms-causes/syc-20369422 Accessed: 15 November 2023
  6. Anorgasmia In Women: Symptoms & Causes: Causes – Physical Causes. 30 April 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorgasmia/symptoms-causes/syc-20369422 Accessed: 15 November 2023
  7. Anorgasmia In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 30 April 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorgasmia/symptoms-causes/syc-20369422 Accessed: 15 November 2023
  8. Sexual Dysfunction. Last Reviewed: 27 October 2020. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9121-sexual-dysfunction Accessed: 15 November 2023
  9. Female Sexual Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview: Causes. 17 December 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/female-sexual-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20372549 Accessed: 15 November 2023
  10. Sexual Health & Menopause Online: Talking To Your Health Care Provider About Your Problem. North America Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/sexual-health-menopause-online/effective-treatments-for-sexual-problems/talking-to-your-healthcare-provider-about-your-problem Accessed: 15 November 2023
Topic Last Updated: 03 March 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 15 November 2023

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