An Overview of Female Sexual Dysfunction
In the past, female sexuality was considered a taboo topic. Women were embarrassed or encouraged not to discuss any body changes or their declining sex life. Today, the topic is becoming more widely accepted. Women can now feel 100% comfortable talking to their physician about any female changes that are causing sexual dysfunction. Dr. Dennis Eisenberg, OBGYN serving the communities of Plano, Frisco and Dallas, Texas, specializes in addressing female sexual dysfunction caused by the body’s natural aging process, as well as body changes caused by childbirth, surgery or cancer treatment.
What is Female Sexuality?
Female sexuality is defined as a broad range of psychological experiences and physical activities that fulfill a woman’s need for intimacy and closeness on both the emotional and physical level. Sexuality does not include only a woman’s sexual practices. Female sexuality includes a woman’s self-esteem, how she relates to her sexual partner, previous sexual experiences and the physical act of intercourse.
A woman’s sexuality changes throughout her life stages. The differences are caused by age, overall health, hormone levels and emotional well-being.
Female Sexual Dysfunction Disorders
Women can experience sexual issues just like men. Sexual problems, in both sexes, are defined as anything that interferes with an individual’s satisfaction before, during and after any sexual activity. When an issue occurs during any of these stages in a woman, it is classified as female sexual dysfunction.
In order to fully understand how sexual problems in females occur, it is important to understand the four stages of the sexual response cycle.
- Desire- The “sexual charge” that increases interest in and responsiveness to sexual activity
- Plateau- Sexual stimulation and vaginal changes take place- the vagina becomes lubricated for intercourse
- Orgasm- At the peak of the plateau stage, a climax is reached
- Resolution- The body returns to an unaroused state
Female sexual dysfunction disorders are generally classified into four genetic categories, including:
- Sexual desire disorders- A woman experiences an overall lack of desire
- Arousal disorders- A woman has a difficult time becoming aroused, either physically, mentally or both
- Orgasm disorders- Much like arousal disorders, a woman has a difficult time achieving an orgasm
- Pain during intercourse- Consistent pain often leads to a woman’s overall lack of sexual desire, as well as difficulties becoming aroused and/or reaching an orgasm
In aging women, pain during intercourse is most often caused by hormone changes associated with the stages of menopause. As estrogen levels gradually decline, the vagina becomes dry and less elastic.
Female Sexual Dysfunction Treatment
Treatment for female sexual dysfunction is dependent on the present disorder. Dysfunction can occur due to physical or psychological factors, or both in some cases.
If physical, effective treatment requires Dr. Eisenberg to address the underlying medical condition or hormone changes. Women may be encouraged to become more physically active, make extra time for relaxation and leisure activities and follow an overall healthy lifestyle.
Women may also be encouraged to try bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) in order to regain healthy hormone balance, or MonaLisa Touch. MonaLisa Touch is a laser vaginal rejuvenation system that delivers CO2 energy to unhealthy vaginal tissue. This energy stimulates a healing response caused by generation of new collagen within the vaginal cells. With healthy vaginal cells, women experience alleviated vaginal dryness, burning and itching, as well as an increase in sexual pleasure.
If you live in the Plano, Frisco and Dallas, Texas communities and would like to discuss female sexuality in more detail, or are experiencing female sexual dysfunction, please contact the office of board certified OBGYN Dr. Dennis Eisenberg.