Orgasmic Dysfunction in Women
Orgasm is a state when a woman reaches climax when aroused and stimulated. Some women reach orgasm with little stimulation while some may orgasm after stimulating them for longer periods. The stimulation needed, the frequency of orgasms and the intensity of orgasm vary from person to person. A condition when a woman has difficulty reaching orgasm even after arousal and sufficient stimulation is called ‘Orgasmic Dysfunction’. Men also experience orgasmic dysfunction but that’s rare.
Orgasmic dysfunction is also called ‘Anorgasmia’ or ‘Female Orgasmic Disorder’.
What causes orgasmic dysfunction in women?
The reasons for orgasmic dysfunction in a woman can be physical, medical and psychological. Some symptoms of orgasmic dysfunction include:
- Medical conditions such as diabetes.
- Age – As a woman ages, reaches / crosses menopause stage, significant reduction in sexual desire, arousal and orgasm can be seen.
- Depression – a psychological condition can remove a person’s interest in sex. Also the medications taken to tackle depression, SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)s can also affect orgasm in a woman.
- Cultural/Religious background and upbringing – even today, there are many cultures in which talking/discussing about intimate moments is still considered a taboo. Women who were brought strictly under such circumstances may find it difficult in getting aroused and reaching orgasm.
- A feeling of shy or guilt can also deprive women of arousal.
- Traumatic past of sexual abuse
- Stress – Can be due to any reason. Domestic or work related stress can take a toll on a woman’s sexual desires.
- Relationship issues – Women going through issues in a relationship often fail to enjoy sex with their partners.
- Surgical procedures such as hysterectomy may also cause orgasm problems in some women.
Symptoms of orgasmic dysfunction
Inability to reach orgasm even when after sufficient stimulation for longer periods or having unsatisfying climax are the primary symptoms of anorgasmia in women.
Types of Orgasmic Dysfunction
Depending on whether a woman has ever reached orgasm and the frequency, orgasmic dysfunction has been classified into 4 different types:
- Primary Anorgasmia – Women who has never reached orgasm in her life.
- Secondary Anorgasmia – Women who experienced orgasm before but unable to climax currently even after enough stimulation.
- Situational Anorgasmia – Having an orgasm depending on the situation such as only when masturbating or having oral sex.
- General Anorgasmia – Not experiencing orgasm in anyway even after getting aroused and having sufficient stimulation.
Diagnosis of Orgasmic Dysfunction
Your doctor (you must see a good gynecologist for your problem) will start with questions about your sexual history, work, partner relationship to understand your sexual behaviour and if there is any stress in your work or personal life. He/she will then perform a physical exam to see if there is anything obvious.
If your gynecologist wants to know the hormone levels in your body, he/she may ask you get some tests done and then proceed with medication/treatment accordingly. Orgasmic dysfunction has been seen in patients with estrogen deficiency.
Treatment of Orgasmic Dysfunction/Anorgasmia
What treatment option would be right for you depends on the problem inferred by your gynecologist. If your problem is diagnosed as stress or a stressful relationship, you may be redirected to a good sex therapist who can try and fix your problem. If you are in a not so happy relationship, you and your partner may have to attend the sessions with your therapist so that you can see better results sooner.
If your anti-depressants are the cause of the problem, different medication may be provided. If your estrogen levels are lower than normal, you may be put on Hormone Replacement Therapy. Hormone replacement therapy involves providing your body with estrogen. This can happen in different forms such as pills, injections, patches, creams/gels etc.
Know about Hormone Replacement Therapy
Your gynecologist may also recommend a G-Shot (G Spot amplification) or O-Shot (Orgasm spot amplification) to help improve your chances of orgasm. Many women who got either of these shots or both have reported experiencing orgasms and enjoyed their intimate moments better than before.
Summary
If you are not able to experience orgasms like before, in some cases, you should be able to analyze the reason for yourself. If not, remember that you are not alone and there is nothing wrong in contacting a good gynecologist before that starts affecting your relationship. Avoid over the counter medications or gels without taking suggestion of your gynecologist. Orgasmic dysfunction is a very much treatable condition and the only thing you need to make sure is that you find a good gynecologist near you and explain to him/her clearly the problem, sexual activities/history and personal relationships.
