70% Of Women Say Low Libido Affects Their Relationship. So Why Aren"t They Seeking Help?

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The BDSM bestseller, 50 Shades of Grey, titillated the interest and expanded the sexual imaginations of millions of American women. Yet the results of a new sex survey reveal that many of those very women, in their own lives, in their own beds, are saying no: “Not tonight.” “I’ve got a headache.” “I’m just too f-ing tired.”

 

According to the 450-women survey, 27% of premenopausal women and 34% of postmenopausal women are very dissatisfied with their current level of sexual desire. And while more than 70% of those women say their relationships have suffered as a result, very few have sought help for it.

 

“The women in the survey didn’t even know [low desire] was an actual thing,” says Sheryl A. Kingsberg, PhD, professor of both reproductive biology and psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland and author of an upcoming Journal of Women’s Health article on the survey. “They didn’t realize that low sexual desire is a medically recognized condition with a name—Female Sexual Interest and Arousal Disorder—and that there are places to go for treatment.”

 

It is and there are, stresses Kingsberg—sort of.

 

Yes, Female Sexual Interest and Arousal Disorder is in the latest edition of the diagnostician’s Bible—the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, or DSM for short—and by all indications, it’s alarmingly prevalent. And while psychotherapy can be very helpful for women for whom flagging desire is psychological in origin, there are no FDA-approved drug treatments for low female sexual desire that’s biologically driven—no pink Viagras. And Kingsberg says, that makes many family docs loathe even to bring up sexual health during a routine exam. “They don’t have anything to offer patients, so the attitude is, ‘Why talk about it?’ ” she says. “Often, they don’t.”

 

Which means it’s up to you to bring it up.

 

“Low sexual desire truly is a silent epidemic among women,” says Louann Brizendine, MD, founder and director of the Women’s Mood and Hormone Clinic at the University of California, San Francisco and author of The Female Brain. “Women feel they will be rejected by their partners and even judged by their friends if they tell the truth. They live in deep, deep shame.” The only answer for them personally, says Brizendine, and for women’s health in general is to break the silence. “Talk to your doctor, talk to your friends,” she says. “The problem deserves the attention—and you do, too.”

 

Brizendine recalls when Viagra hit the market 15 years ago: “Droves of men went to their GPs—doctors whom they had been seeing for 20 years or more—asking them for Viagra. The GPs had no idea their patients were having erectile dysfunction, because they had never asked and the guys had never volunteered the information—the fact that there was a solution broke their silence.” Brizendine says we need to break our silence now so that the FDA knows there’s demand for a solution.

 

Your first step: Stop by eventhescore.org—a website created by numerous women’s-sexual-health-concerned nonprofits to alert the FDA to the fact that there are now 26 drugs on the market to address male sexual dysfunction and not a single one for women. Your second: pop in to see your own doctor, and, if you need to, raise the issue. This is not something you need to suffer in silence.

 

In the meantime, these 20 just-for-women tips can help you start to want sex again.

 

 

Categories: arousal disorder, desire, female sexual, nbsp, sexual, sexual desire, sexual health, silence, Women

What to Do When Sex Becomes a Painful Ordeal

When sexual pleasure becomes painful, it is known as female sexual arousal disorder. This affects the wellness and wellbeing of thousands of women every year. Female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) is defined as the recurrent or persistent inability to enjoy sexual activity and a lack of lubrication and swelling response to sexual excitement.

 

This condition is both a physical one, which may come alongside other physical issues associated with sexual dysfunction, and a psychological issue. There are a few different types of FSAD.

 

Genital sexual arousal disorder is when the genitals fail to become aroused, even although other areas of the body may be aroused and the sufferer may be mentally aroused.

 

Subjective arousal disorder occurs when there are diminished feelings of sexual arousal, even when sexual stimuli is present.

 

Combined genital and subjective arousal disorder is when both of the above conditions occur at the same time – feelings of sexual arousal and a physical response to sexual stimuli are both absent at the same time. It can be present on its own or at the same time as other sexual or physical disorders.

 

The causes of female sexual arousal disorder are varied and it can have many different causes. It may be due to problems with the bladder or bowel, as a result of arthritis or following on from previous surgery on the pelvis. Sometimes it occurs alongside neurological problems, fatigue or headaches. Irregular hormone levels can be to blame in some cases, as can untreated depression or anxiety, or even severe stress.

 

In some cases the cause is far more subtle, as it can be something like a negative body image or a problem with self esteem that causes the woman to fail to feel aroused. Others are responding to religious or cultural issues surrounding sex, and in this case counselling may be the most appropriate treatment.

Categories: arousal, arousal disorder, Disorder, female sexual, nbsp, ordeal, painful, Sex, sexual, sexual arousal, sexual stimuli, subjective arousal

Am I Normal? Unusual Sexual Conditions to Watch Out For

There’s a wide range of things considered “normal” within the bounds of sexual health. However, this doesn’t stop you from worrying about your wellbeing, and whether or not you’re sexually “normal”. Plus, there can be a big stigma associated with talking about sex, so you can’t always compare notes with your friends. That said, there are some unusual conditions to watch out for, so take a look at our list – embarrassment free.

 

1. Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD): According to health and wellness expert Shanna Freeman, former Senior Editor at HowStuffWorks, ‘People with persistent genital arousal disorder, or PGAD, are constantly in a state of sexual arousal. Actual symptoms of PGAD can vary. Women often experience the physical signs of arousal, including engorgement in their genitals, without even thinking about sex. They can also have such sensitive genital areas that driving or wearing certain types of clothing can cause arousal.’ Some doctors refer to PGAD when talking about women, and priapism (see below) when discussing similar symptoms in men. However, many wellness experts do not believe in making a distinction between genders. Although some people just live with the condition, there has been some success with medication such as antidepressants or Chantix (initially used to curb nicotine addiction).

 

2. Priapism: There is one basic symptom to watch out for with this sexual health condition; a painful engorgement of your erectile tissues that lasts for more than four hours. Freeman explains that priapism ‘occurs when blood becomes trapped in the genital area and does not circulate back into the rest of the body. While women can have priapism, it’s more common in men, and men and women require different treatments for the condition.’ Given the large amount of blood trapped in the genitals, men need immediate medical attention. If left untreated, priapism can cause vessel damage, scarring, a loss of function or even gangrene. The earlier you seek attention, the better your chances of a full recovery. For women, ice packs and anti-inflammatory medications can usually relieve your tenderness and swelling.

 

3. Hypersexuality: This sexual health condition is actually classified as a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). ‘People with this diagnosis also have lowered sexual inhibitions and are generally obsessed with sex to the point that their lives are deeply affected,’ says Freeman. ‘People with hypersexuality often engage in risky sexual behaviours, like sex with prostitutes and unprotected sex with numerous strangers, which can put them at risk for sexually transmitted infections. Those who are in monogamous relationships may not be able to be faithful to their partners. In extreme cases, hypersexual people may be sexually abusive to others.’ The treatments for this condition vary, but your doctor may prescribe mood-stabilising drugs, talk therapy or drugs that reduce your testosterone levels.

 

4. Sexsomnia: Put simply, people with sexsomnia have sex while they’re asleep – usually with no idea about it until confronted by evidence or by another person. Freeman notes, ‘Behaviours may range from masturbation to having sexual intercourse while sleeping. Sexsomniacs have been known to sleepwalk from their homes and have sex with strangers. There have even been cases in which a person with sexsomnia committed a sexual assault or rape while asleep.’ In order to treat sexsomnia effectively, your doctor will need to determine the underlying cause. If sleep apnoea is the culprit, treating sexsomnia can be as simple as using a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine to treat sleep apnoea. Anti-anxiety drugs have also been found to be effective in treating sexsomnia.

Categories: arousal disorder, genital arousal, health condition, Hypersexuality, people, persistent genital, priapism, sexsomnia, sexual, sexual health, Sleep apnoea, treating sexsomnia