A disorder which
may result from a traumatic experience, but can also be acquired through
problems within relationships. There are those for whom the problem
is of lifelong duration and for others the problem may present in
generalized settings or be specific to situational settings. Female
Orgasmic Disorder occurs when there is a significant delay or total
absence of orgasm associated with the sexual activity. This condition
must cause a problem in the relationship with the sexual partner in
order to be defined as a disorder.
After a normal phase of sexual excitement, the woman's orgasm is persistently
or repeatedly delayed or absent. The clinician's judgment of this
is based on her sexual experience, adequacy of foreplay and norms
for her age.
Except for another Sexual Dysfunction.
It is not directly caused by substance use (medication or drug of
abuse) or by a general medical condition.
It causes marked distress or interpersonal problems.
Associated
Features:
Present or
Previous Traumatic Experience.
Possible inadequate genital stimulation.
Poor communication by both partners.
Differential
Diagnosis:
Some disorders have similar or even the same symptoms. The clinician,
therefore, in his/her diagnostic attempt has to differentiate against
the following disorders which need to be ruled out to establish a
precise diagnosis.
Alcohol.
Anxiety.
Depression.
Emotional problems; distraction.
Medical Illness.
Negative Body Perception
Stress.
Cause:
A
disorder which can result from trauma but can also be acquired through
problems within relationships.
Treatment:
The
capacity for orgasm increases with age, female orgasmic disorder are
more common in younger women. Many women increase orgasm capacity
as they acquire more knowledge of the responses of their own bodies.
Masturbatory training may also be helpful in the treatment of female
orgasm disorder
Sex
therapy and counselling can be helpful. Occasional orgasmic problems,
which are not persistent or do not result in distress or interpersonal
difficulty, are not considered a disorder, nor are orgasmic problems
which result from the poor or inadequate nature of the sexual stimulation
by a partner including "focus, intensity and duration."
Pharmacotherapy
[ See Psychopharmacology
Section ] :
There
are substance-induced (drug related) sexual dysfunctions for which
inhibited orgasm can be the result.
