Description

Anorgasmia is delayed, infrequent or absent orgasms — or significantly less intense orgasms — after sexual arousal and sexual stimulation. Women who have problems with orgasms, and that they feel significant discomfort about such problems can be diagnosed with anorgasmia.

Among all women, the frequency and intensity of orgasm vary. Also, for any individual, orgasms can be different from one moment to the next. The type and amount of stimulation necessary to have an orgasm also varies.

The multiple factors that can lead to anorgasmia. These include the relationship or intimacy issues, cultural factors, physical or medical conditions and medications. Treatments may include sex education, sexual stimulation, improvement of the devices, individual or couple therapy, and medications.

Female orgasmic disorder is another term for the spectrum of problems with orgasms. The word "anorgasmia" specifically refers to not being able to have an orgasm, but it's also used as a formula for female orgasmic disorders.

Symptoms

An orgasm is a peak sensation of intense pleasure in response to the stimulation of the sexual activity.

The Vaginal penetration during intercourse indirectly stimulates the clitoris. But this may not be enough stimulation for orgasm. Many women also need direct manual or oral stimulation of the clitoris to achieve orgasm.

Anorgasmia, or female orgasmic disorder, is defined as experiencing any of these in a meaningful way:

  • The delay of an orgasm.
  • Absence of orgasm.
  • Fewer orgasms.
  • Less intense orgasms.

Anorgasmia can be:

  • Of all the life, if you've never had an orgasm.
  • Acquired, if you have problems with having orgasms.
  • Situational, if you have problems with orgasm only in certain situations, with certain types of stimulation, or some of the partners.
  • Widespread, if you have problems with orgasm in any situation.

Women who don't always reach orgasm during sexual intercourse can not find distressing. In this case, the lack of an orgasm is not considered a disorder.

When to see a doctor

Talk with your health care professional if you have any concerns about your sex life, especially if you are concerned about your ability to have an orgasm.

Causes

Sexual arousal and orgasm are complex reactions to various physical, emotional, sensory, and psychological factors. Difficulties in any of these areas can affect your ability to have an orgasm.

Personal and psychological factors

Past experiences, behaviors, background or mental well-being can contribute to problems with orgasms. These include:

  • Past sexual or emotional abuse.
  • The lack of knowledge about the sexual stimulation or drug interactions.
  • Poor body image.
  • Guilt or shame about sex.
  • Cultural or religious beliefs about sex.
  • The factors of stress, such as financial problems or the loss of a loved one.
  • Mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression.

The relationship of the factors of

Problems with your sexual partner may be factors that contribute to the problems with orgasms. These may include:

  • The lack of emotional intimacy.
  • The conflicts are not resolved.
  • The poor communication of sexual needs and preferences.
  • The unfaithfulness or abuse of confidence.
  • Intimate partner violence.
  • Partner sexual dysfunction with a male partner with erectile dysfunction.

Physical causes

A wide range of illnesses, physical changes and medications can interfere with orgasms:

  • Health conditions. Long-term conditions — such as diabetes, an overactive bladder, or multiple sclerosis may be contributing or complicating factors in the disorders of orgasm.
  • Gynecological treatments. Damage in the tissue of the gynecological surgeries, such as hysterectomy or cancer surgery can affect the ability to have an orgasm.
  • Drugs. Many prescription and nonprescription medications you may inhibit the orgasm, including blood pressure medications, antipsychotic medications, antihistamines, and antidepressants — particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Ssris).
  • Alcohol and tobacco. Alcohol suppresses the nervous system and may hinder the ability to have an orgasm. Smoking can limit the blood flow to your sexual organs, which affects their ability to have an orgasm.
  • Age-related changes to the body. Changes in the body after menopause or later in life may contribute to various types of sexual dysfunction.

Related sexual disorders

Women suffering from anorgasmia may have one or more related sexual problems. These may contribute to or complicate the problem with having orgasms. These conditions include:

  • Problems with sexual arousal.
  • Little or no desire for sex.
  • The pain of sexual intercourse or other sexual stimulation.
  • The dryness of the vagina or the vulva.
  • Involuntary tightening of the vagina, it is called vaginismus.

Risk factors

Risk factors linked to have problems with orgasm, which include:

  • Low level of education.
  • Low-income.
  • Ill-health.
  • Depression and other mental health conditions.
  • History of trauma, such as sexual abuse.

Diagnosis

Your primary care professional or gynecologist will review your medical history and perform a general medical examination and a pelvic exam. These tests can identify the physical conditions that contribute to the problems of having orgasms.

Your health care professional may ask you questions about your experiences with orgasms and other related issues. You can also receive a questionnaire to fill out the answers to these questions. You may be asked about:

  • His recent and past sexual experiences.
  • Your partner or partners.
  • How you feel about your sexual experiences.
  • The types of sexual stimulation or activity that you do.

Your healthcare provider may talk with you and your partner or meet with your partner separately.

Treatment

The treatment for anorgasmia depends on what is contributing to the problem. Possible treatments include lifestyle changes, therapy, and medications. If an underlying medical condition is contributing to the anorgasmia, your healthcare provider will recommend the appropriate treatment.

Lifestyle changes and therapy

The treatment for anorgasmia usually begins with one or more approaches to better understand your body, know what works for you and behaviour change. These treatments may include:

  • Education. Your healthcare provider will likely begin with a discussion of women's sexual anatomy and how the different parts of the anatomy of responding to the stimulation. This conversation can help answer any questions, clarify misunderstandings, and help you understand the purpose of other recommended treatments. Your health care professional may also recommend educational materials.
  • Directed masturbation. This program of training and at home workouts to help you get more familiar with your own body and explore the self-directed to sexual stimulation. After you have learned to bring to the orgasm, the knowledge about what they have learned is practiced with your partner.
  • Sensate focus. This approach for couples provides the instruction and the exercises at home. It begins with non-erotic touch and gradually introduces more intimate touch and sexual stimulation. A goal is for each partner to understand the other person's needs and to learn how to communicate and direct each other in order to achieve orgasms.
  • The changes in sexual positions. Your health care professional may recommend changes in the sex positions that increase the stimulation of the clitoris during vaginal sex.
  • Sexual enhancement devices. The devices that improve the sexual stimulation can help you have an orgasm. These include vibrators and air pulsing devices that stimulate the clitoris. Another device that is held to the clitoris, it creates a mild suction to increase blood flow. Your health care professional may recommend using them alone to understand what works for you, and then try them with your partner.
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy. Individual or couples therapy can help address your thought about sex in general, or with your partner. Therapy can help with behaviors that may promote good sexual relations, such as learning ways to talk with your partner about sex or communicating their needs during sex.

Medical treatments

Although some drugs have been tested for the treatment of anorgasmia, there is not enough evidence to support its use. Hormone replacement therapies may have some benefit, but they have risks that require careful control. These include:

  • Estrogen therapy. If you are receiving treatment for the symptoms of menopause, the treatment can also have an effect on the improvement of the sexual experience. Also, a low-dose estrogen therapy to the vagina as a cream or suppository, you can enhance the flow of blood to the genitals and to improve the lubrication of the vagina. The long-term use of estrogen pills is associated with a risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.
  • Testosterone therapy. For some women in menopause who have testosterone levels lower than what is considered typical of women, testosterone replacement may improve arousal and orgasm. The side effects can include acne, excess body hair, a decrease in HDL cholesterol or "good" cholesterol, and the risks are similar to estrogen replacement therapy.

Alternative medicine

Natural products, such as those made with L-arginine or Russian olive tree extract, marketed for the improvement of women's sex life. They have been studied in small trials with several herbal products or in combination with other drugs or with the lifestyle of the management of the programmes. There are not enough data to know if they have any effect of the treatment.

Talk with your health care professional before trying natural therapies, which can cause side effects and interact with other medications.

Preparing for your appointment

If your lack of orgasm sexual activity distresses you, make an appointment with your primary care professional or your gynecologist. Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Make a list of the following items that are important to share with your health care professional:

  • The symptoms, when for the first time began to have problems with orgasms, and under what circumstances the problems that occurred.
  • Your sexual history, including the relationships and experiences since they came to sexual maturity, and any history of trauma or sexual abuse.
  • Medical conditions you have, including mental health conditions.
  • The drugs, vitamins , and other supplements that you take, including over-dose.
  • The questions that you have about any of the activities or sexual healthy sexual relationships.

What to expect from your doctor

In addition to the information that you prepare, your healthcare provider will likely ask questions to understand their sexual experiences, your ability to reach orgasm, and their thoughts about their sexual relationship. You might think about the answers to the following questions:

  • Are you sexually active now?
  • How many partners have now?
  • Does your partner identify as a man, a woman or non-binary?
  • What types of sexual activities do you participate?
  • Do you become sexually aroused during sexual interactions with your partner?
  • How satisfied are you with your sexual relationship with your partner? Has your satisfaction changed over time?
  • How satisfied were you with a previous partner?
  • Have you been able to have orgasms in the past?
  • It is hard to have an orgasm only under certain activities?
  • You are able to have an orgasm with masturbation?
  • Do you have pain with vaginal penetration or other sexual activity?
  • How to use protection during sex?
  • Has had a sexually transmitted disease?
  • You are currently trying to get pregnant or have concerns about becoming pregnant?
  • Do you use birth control?
  • Make use of alcohol or recreational drugs? How much?
  • What messages about sex got to grow?
  • How satisfied are you overall with your current relationship?
Symptoms and treatment of Anorgasmia in women