WOMEN'S COMMON SEXUAL COMPLAINTS

-- How Are They Treated --

Women may suffer from a number of different sexual dysfunctions and the Medical Center for Female Sexuality (MCFS) offers a variety of treatments depending on the dysfunction and the cause. Gone are the days of "It's all in her head." Medical and psychological professionals are starting to recognize the integration of physical and psychological components on female sexual dysfunction.

Here are some common complaints frequently experienced by women:

Never Interested in Sex: An ongoing lack of interest in sex can have either physical or psychological causes. Hormone insufficiencies or medication also can cause this lack of interest. Psychological factors may be varied and complex.

Interest in Sex Has Diminished Since Having Children: A mix of physical and psychological components often contribute to a decrease in sexual desire after having children. Hormone insufficiencies and body stresses are physical causes. Psychological factors can include exhaustion, changing body image, or altered self-image.

Interest in Sex has Diminished with Age: Like other areas where interest in sex has declined, age-diminished sexual interest frequently has combined physical and psychological components. Hormone insufficiencies and medication effects combine with feelings about a woman's changing body and changing life to cause a decrease in sexual desire.

Inability to Orgasm during Intercourse: Only 30% of women can orgasm with intercourse. Women who cannot are not anorgasmic, merely typical and there are many alternatives available.

What is a G-Spot: Named after Dr. Ernest Grafenberg, this is a sensitive area in the vagina, somewhere between the pubic bone and the cervix. Some women find this spot to be sensitive; others do not find it particularly exciting.

Lack of Arousal: Arousal consists of a series of physiological changes including vaginal wetness, vulvar swelling, tingling sensation, raised hair on skin, and nipple erection. In some women, these changes do not take place, in others, the woman might not be aware of these changes. Causes of arousal disorder can vary tremendously and treatment will vary depending on the cause. Often, a variety of treatments will need to be combined.

Pain during Intercourse: There are a variety of different types of pain during intercourse. Causes include Vaginismus and Dyspareunia.

Vaginisumus: The entry to the vagina makes intercourse impossible or extremely painful. Some women can put other things into the vagina besides a penis, such as a tampon or finger, others can not.

Dysparunia: A deeper pain than vaginismus, this can occur in any area of the vagina. Some women feel pain in a different area than the irritation so practitioner and patient must work together to identify both the location of the pain and the location of the pain trigger.

Always Been Unable to Orgasm: Some women have never been able to orgasm. Experiencing an orgasm is a learned behavior and some women have never learned to have one. Low hormone levels, poor blood circulation, and lack of lubrication can all contribute to women's inability to experience an orgasm. In addition, there are some women who are blocked psychologically from experiencing orgasm.

Recently Unable to Orgasm: As women get older, the sometimes develop less intense orgasms or have a harder time reaching orgasm. This can be caused by hormone insufficiencies or reduced blood flow to the vaginal area. Inability to reach orgasm can also be caused by medication, in particular, some anti-depressants. Women who have experienced orgasms in the past are likely to do so again.

Women may experience a variety of different sexual dysfunctions. In addition, these dysfunctions may change throughout a woman's life. Professionals specializing in female sexual dysfunction, like those at the MCFS, are best equipped to help women become more satisfied with their sex life.

he Medical Center for Female Sexuality is one of the only treatment centers in the country to integrate a medical and psychological treatment modality. A medical and psychological team works to evaluate the issues that might be of concern to the patient. Since the MCFS is a medical practice, the treatments are generally covered by most insurance companies. The MCFS can be found on the Internet at www.centerforfemalesexuality.com

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