Understanding Female Sexual Dysfunction

Female sexual dysfunction occurs when a woman feels, for any number of reasons, that her sex life isn't as satisfying as it could be.

This may be because a woman:

• Doesn't get excited, or when she is sexually excited, doesn't become physically aroused or lubricated.
• Can’t have an orgasm - either she has never had one or she no longer has them.
• May find intercourse painful, difficult, or physically irritating.
• Has no interest in sex, or her interest doesn't match up with her partner's.
• Doesn't feel emotionally close to or trusting of her partner.

There can be any number of reasons, physical or psychological (or a combination of the two), why a woman may feel that she doesn't have a full and satisfying sex life.

Listen to Dr. Marcus talk about female sexual dysfunction:

Watch more video discussions.

Read more about common sexual conditions experienced by our patients.

Take our sexual health questionnaire.

Female Sexual Response

Female sexual response is a complex blend of emotional and physical stimuli and female sexual dysfunction may be the result of physical and emotional stimuli. We are greatly affected by the early messages we received from our family, our religion and our culture. From a very young age we are bombarded with images and notions of what our bodies look like and how we act sexually.

Most of these ideas have little bearing on reality, but they often have tremendous power over our expectations and self-image. To truly enjoy sex, we may need to free ourselves of preconceived ideas about beauty and sex and learn what feels good to us and what we enjoy. If we are willing to explore and experiment, it is likely that we can find the kind of sex that feels good to us both physically and emotionally.

There is significant and important information about female sexual response that we are only beginning to appreciate, including a complete understanding of the blood vessels and nerves in the pelvis, and how surgeries, childbirth, illnesses, medications, hormonal changes and aging may affect a woman's sexual experience. Research into this area has become more focused in recent years and we are learning more about it every day.

Read Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus' article on Female Sexual Dysfunction.

About the Medical Center for Female Sexuality

Contact us for more information about the Center or call us to make an appointment at (914) 328-3700.

Free women’s sexuality information packet.