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.
