Sexual dysfunction, like sexual enjoyment, is psychological in nature
At its best, sexual activity is one of the most powerfully enjoyable and satisfying human experience available. Likewise, when sexual problems develop, it can become a source of emotional distress and unhappiness like no other.
With the current widespread availability of modern medical remedies for sexual dysfunction, such as Viagra and Cialis, it is easy to forget that psychological processes typically play an essential role in problems involving sexual performance and satisfaction. A study appearing this month in the International Journal of Stress Management published by the American Psychological Association underscores the importance of “performance anxiety” in the development and maintenance sexual difficulties.
Experts have traditionally divided the human sexual response into four stages: desire, arousal, orgasm, and resolution. While problems could occur in any of these four stages, the first three appear particularly prone to the development of sexual dysfunction. Problems which appear initially in one phase may progress to affect another phase or phases of the sexual response cycle.
A person who experiences a problem in the desire phase typically experiences a lack of interest in having sex. He or she might not experience sexual thoughts or fantasies, and would be unlikely to initiate sexual activities.
A man experiencing difficulty with the arousal phase, as one might guess, would have difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection, making it difficult to engage in sexual intercourse. A woman would experience difficulty with the physiological responses which are needed to prepare her for sexual intercourse, such as the increased secretion of vaginal lubrication.
Problems in the orgasm phase are experienced by men as premature ejaculation, ejaculating too soon; or retarded ejaculation, taking too long to ejaculate. The female counterpart is known as inorgasmia, or having difficulty achieving orgasm.
Difficulty achieving orgasm is not rare among females, as I have pointed out here previously, and is not necessarily an indication of sexual dysfunction. In fact, as the pioneer sex researcher Alfred Kinsey demonstrated, sexual behavior is generally so diverse in its human manifestations that abnormality can in no way be considered a sign of pathology. Clinical psychologists often find it useful to consider emotional disturbance as a useful indicator for treatment, rather than targeting some sexual behavior that happens to fall outside of the mainstream.
Psychological problems may occur as a consequence of sexual dysfunction, and/or contribute to the development sexual dysfunction. Experts believe that performance anxiety plays an important role in the development of sexual dysfunction, particularly among men, although women with orgasmic dysfunction may also experience performance anxiety.
Sexual dysfunction may occur for any number of reasons; including problems in the relationship, attitudes toward sex, drugs or alcohol, anxiety, stress, fatigue, etc. A man who has experienced difficulty achieving an erection might subsequently entertain concerns over whether or not he will be able to achieve a sufficiently strong erection to permit sexual intercourse. Experts propose that performance anxiety may occur as a result of efforts at “willing” an erection, rather than permitting it to occur naturally as a product of sexual enjoyment. Anxiety may be increased with thoughts of imagined dire consequences of failing to perform adequately. Losing his erection at the point of vaginal penetration, when it is most needed, could serve to reinforce a man’s fears, increasing his anxiety level further.
Similarly, a woman who has difficulty experiencing orgasm might begin to entertain thoughts that her partner might become tired, and lose interest in continuing the session. She might excessively monitor her own arousal level, and feel an urgent need to experience an orgasm in order to satisfy her partner. She may, likewise, imagine dire consequences of not responding as she believes she should. The resulting anxiety interferes with her sexual enjoyment, and on and on in a vicious cycle.
Psychological treatment for sexual dysfunction typically aims at reducing the person’s anxiety level by identifying and changing the thought patterns implicated in contributing to the problem. Building a warm and mutually supportive alliance between the partners also can’t hurt. If each partner can learn to give and receive unconditional acceptance of the other during lovemaking, anxiety levels can diminish, and performance and enjoyment can increase. Just as they can interfere with sexual excitement, psychological factors can also enhance enjoyment, thus contributing positively to a couple’s relationship.
With the current widespread availability of modern medical remedies for sexual dysfunction, such as Viagra and Cialis, it is easy to forget that psychological processes typically play an essential role in problems involving sexual performance and satisfaction. A study appearing this month in the International Journal of Stress Management published by the American Psychological Association underscores the importance of “performance anxiety” in the development and maintenance sexual difficulties.
Experts have traditionally divided the human sexual response into four stages: desire, arousal, orgasm, and resolution. While problems could occur in any of these four stages, the first three appear particularly prone to the development of sexual dysfunction. Problems which appear initially in one phase may progress to affect another phase or phases of the sexual response cycle.
A person who experiences a problem in the desire phase typically experiences a lack of interest in having sex. He or she might not experience sexual thoughts or fantasies, and would be unlikely to initiate sexual activities.
A man experiencing difficulty with the arousal phase, as one might guess, would have difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection, making it difficult to engage in sexual intercourse. A woman would experience difficulty with the physiological responses which are needed to prepare her for sexual intercourse, such as the increased secretion of vaginal lubrication.
Problems in the orgasm phase are experienced by men as premature ejaculation, ejaculating too soon; or retarded ejaculation, taking too long to ejaculate. The female counterpart is known as inorgasmia, or having difficulty achieving orgasm.
Difficulty achieving orgasm is not rare among females, as I have pointed out here previously, and is not necessarily an indication of sexual dysfunction. In fact, as the pioneer sex researcher Alfred Kinsey demonstrated, sexual behavior is generally so diverse in its human manifestations that abnormality can in no way be considered a sign of pathology. Clinical psychologists often find it useful to consider emotional disturbance as a useful indicator for treatment, rather than targeting some sexual behavior that happens to fall outside of the mainstream.
Psychological problems may occur as a consequence of sexual dysfunction, and/or contribute to the development sexual dysfunction. Experts believe that performance anxiety plays an important role in the development of sexual dysfunction, particularly among men, although women with orgasmic dysfunction may also experience performance anxiety.
Sexual dysfunction may occur for any number of reasons; including problems in the relationship, attitudes toward sex, drugs or alcohol, anxiety, stress, fatigue, etc. A man who has experienced difficulty achieving an erection might subsequently entertain concerns over whether or not he will be able to achieve a sufficiently strong erection to permit sexual intercourse. Experts propose that performance anxiety may occur as a result of efforts at “willing” an erection, rather than permitting it to occur naturally as a product of sexual enjoyment. Anxiety may be increased with thoughts of imagined dire consequences of failing to perform adequately. Losing his erection at the point of vaginal penetration, when it is most needed, could serve to reinforce a man’s fears, increasing his anxiety level further.
Similarly, a woman who has difficulty experiencing orgasm might begin to entertain thoughts that her partner might become tired, and lose interest in continuing the session. She might excessively monitor her own arousal level, and feel an urgent need to experience an orgasm in order to satisfy her partner. She may, likewise, imagine dire consequences of not responding as she believes she should. The resulting anxiety interferes with her sexual enjoyment, and on and on in a vicious cycle.
Psychological treatment for sexual dysfunction typically aims at reducing the person’s anxiety level by identifying and changing the thought patterns implicated in contributing to the problem. Building a warm and mutually supportive alliance between the partners also can’t hurt. If each partner can learn to give and receive unconditional acceptance of the other during lovemaking, anxiety levels can diminish, and performance and enjoyment can increase. Just as they can interfere with sexual excitement, psychological factors can also enhance enjoyment, thus contributing positively to a couple’s relationship.
posted by Michael | Friday, February 17, 2006
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