Libido problems in women
It is estimated that 20 -25 percent of women worldwide have never experienced orgasm. Orgasm describes the sexy buzz that is the release of pleasurable sexual tension.
The inability to have orgasm is generally classified as sexual dysfunction. It is a problem that has many causes. All Woman spoke to corporate area doctors to find out why sexual dysfunction occurs and what women could do about it.
One of the main causes of sexual dysfunction is painful sex. According to Dr Santosh Kulkarni, “when pain is experience during intercourse, it decreases or even eliminates the desire to make love.”
All Woman’s investigation also revealed that the source of pain can be caused by one or several of the following factors:
Changes in the vagina following pregnancy. There could be tears in the vaginal area that healed improperly and cause pain during sexual intercourse;
Vaginal infection;
Fibroids;
Ovarian cancer;
Inflammation of the vagina;
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease – a disease caused through sexual intercourse that can even lead to infertility; and
Hormonal deficiency that could lead to the shrinking and weakening of the vagina
In addition to physical changes in the body, Dr Kulkarni noted the hormones in the body could become altered and negatively affect the desire for lovemaking. Two of the most common hormonal changes occur after pregnancy and during menopause. After having a baby, many women need a long time before they feel sexy towards their partner. For women experiencing menopause, the vagina can become dry due to loss of natural lubrication and cause discomfort. Medication can also affect the hormonal balance. Psychiatric medication, blood pressure medication, and even some forms of contraceptives can lead to sexual dysfunction.
Yet another cause for sexual dysfunction is psychological. Dr Milton Hardy stated that, “life stresses can be a big deterrent to sexual pleasure. The daily pressures of life cause people to lose interest in sex.” Some of the other psychological issues highlighted by the doctors interviewed are:
Up-bringing that did not look favourably upon sex;
Traumatic experiences such as rape or incest;
Getting along in age; and
Relationship discord that causes one partner not to be in the mood.
When faced with the above, many women are totally unable to enjoy sex. Dr Kulkarni stated that women came into his office complaining of pain which upon further questioning revealed that deeper problems exist. Dr Hardy informed All Woman that left untreated, these problems led to the total disinterest in sex.
So what can be done? First, the patient must be willing to seek help. This is the most important step. Once the patient is willing to seek help, then the healing process can begin. Women must be aware that it is their right to have fulfilling, pleasurable sexual experiences. Both doctors concur that any health-adverse conditions that exist must be treated. If there is pain, the source of the pain must be found and dealt with. For hormonal problems, medication can be prescribed to restore the balance that is needed. Both of these can be handled by your family doctor or gynaecologist. However, with psychological problems, counseling is the best route.
With counseling, the patient’s partner is key. During the time of counseling, which can last a few months to a few years, the partner must be made to understand the problem that the woman is facing. With a clear understanding, the man will not blame his lady for not wanting sex, but will work with her to overcome the fears that plague her. Dr Kulkarni suggested that the man participate in some of the counseling sessions. During the healing process, he would then be able to patiently reintroduce his lady into gradual sexual relations.
With all being said, Dr. Kulkarni informed All Woman that many women do not come to see him about sexual dysfunction. The ones who visit him, do so after pressure from their partners. “Women should stop feeling embarrassed about their sexuality. If they don’t want to talk to me, they should volunteer their thoughts to someone they trust such as their friend, their partner, or a nurse.”
Dr Hardy stated, “Women suffer in silence. Many Jamaicans are socialised to be reluctant to discuss sex.”
