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Sexual dysfunctions: what they are, what types are there and how they are treated

Sexual dysfunctions: what they are, what types are there and how they are treated

March 2, 2024

Sexual dysfunctions are all those situations in which sexual satisfaction or sexual response are affected and this prevents participation in a desired sexual relationship. They affect both men and women and do not have to be associated with age or sexual orientation.

Our sexuality is valued, even privately and intimately, as one of the most important aspects of our life. However, of all and all it is known that throughout history, human sexuality has been born of taboos, prejudices and censorship .

The repression of sexuality, nothing good, the brake of desire and widespread ignorance on the subject causes not only that we can not know, express and enjoy our sexuality to the fullest, but in many occasions they cause the appearance of more serious difficulties than they impede us that enjoyment and that damage our relationships, both as a couple, and at a social level, as they damage self-esteem and general satisfaction with life.


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Prevalence

Although the statistics are confusing, due to the disagreement that usually exists in the classification of sexual dysfunctions, they indicate a rather high prevalence . Masters and Johnson, pioneers in the investigation of human sexuality in the 60s, indicated that 50% of heterosexual couples had some sexual dysfunction.

Currently, according to the Andalusian Institute of Sexology and Psychology (2002) sexual dysfunction is the most consulted is erectile dysfunction, which covers 48% of consultations. Premature ejaculation followed with 28.8% and then, hypoactive sexual desire (8%), female anorgasmia (7.4%), vaginismus (1.6%) and male orgasm disorders (0.4) %).


How can I know if I have any sexual dysfunction?

The moment you feel discomfort or dissatisfaction in relation to your sexual behavior. For me, the dysfunction starts when it is the person himself who is not comfortable in their relationships , not when the body does not respond as society dictates that it should respond (eg, "A real man can take more than X time"), if you are satisfied with your ejaculation time and your partner too, there is no sexual dysfunction worth ). That is, it is a subjective perception.

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How it interferes with the quality of life

Our body is a means to pleasure. If this does not work as we would like that pleasure it will be invaded, and Does not the pleasure provide quality of life in every way? If our sexual relationships do not provide us with satisfaction we will stop maintaining them, when numerous studies say that one of the variables that is associated with sexual satisfaction is the frequency with which they have, both for men and for women.


In addition, as is evident, not only the relationship between the couple in the bed deteriorates, but also the confidence in one or the same, the self-esteem is deteriorated and in case of having a stable partner, the communication with this and overall satisfaction with the relationship is also detrimental .

As usual, but not the best choice, sexual problems are usually lived in silence. This only generates serious internal conflicts (and with the couple), consequently reducing the quality of life .

Why treatment is important

Sexual dysfunctions often become a vicious circle. It starts with an episode in which our body has not reacted as we wanted (has lost or has not got an erection, suddenly does not feel like having sex, I can not reach the climax or ejaculate sooner than I would like) .

The next sexual relationship is already going with some anticipatory anxiety in the body for fear that it will happen again; that anxiety is what makes the body not work again. So, until you stop trying ("total, I will not enjoy" or "total, why am I going to try it if I'm not going to get it?" Or "I'm useless" or "I want to satisfy you and I can not" ). Anyway, you enter a loop from which it is very difficult to leave and for which you need, in the vast majority of cases, therapeutic help .

Talking about the problems related to sexuality produces very complex emotions such as guilt, shame or failure. For that reason, many people and couples have a hard time taking the step to go to therapy.

We know that it costs a lot, in the first place, to accept that you have a problem that is usually ashamed to admit to oneself and to others, and second, dare to ask for help . Many couples spend an average of 3 years without talking about solving the problem and spend 5 until they go to therapy.

The main reason why it is important to treat them is because the problems in bed produce emotional (and physical pain in some dysfunctions) that can affect your self-esteem and your quality of life in general. It is important that you do not let the emotions that we talked about before invade you and do not let you put an end to that vicious circle, since they are the ones that feed it.

Bibliographic references:

  • Toquero de la Torre, F., Zarco Rodríguez, J., Cabello-Santamaría, F., Alcoba Valls, S., García-Giralda Ruiz, L. and San Martín Blanco, C. (2004). Guide of good clinical practice in sexual dysfunctions. Madrid: Collegial Medical Organization.

Female Sexual Dysfunction: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments (March 2024).


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