What are different types of Sexual Dysfunctions?
A sexual dysfunction can be defined as a disturbance in the sense of pleasure or desire usually associated with sex. The essential features of sexual dysfunctions are an inability to respond to sexual stimulation, or the experience of pain during the sexual act.
Sexual dysfunction diagnoses include:
The symptoms have persisted for a minimum of approximately 6 months and cause significant distress in the individual. The sexual dysfunction is not better explained by a nonsexual mental disorder or as a consequence of severe relationship distress (e.g., partner violence) or other significant stressors, and is not attributable to the effects of a substance/medication or another medical condition.
The symptoms have persisted for a minimum of approximately 6 months and cause significant distress in the individual. The sexual dysfunction is not better explained by a nonsexual mental disorder or as a consequence of severe relationship distress or other significant stressors, and is not attributable to the effects of a substance/medication or another condition.
The symptoms have persisted for a minimum of approximately 6 months and cause significant distress in the individual. The sexual dysfunction is not better explained by a nonsexual mental disorder or as a consequence of severe relationship distress (e.g., partner violence) or other significant stressors, and is not attributable to the effects of a substance/medication or another condition.
The symptoms have persisted for at least 6 months and cause significant distress in the individual. The sexual dysfunction is not better explained by a nonsexual mental disorder or as a consequence of severe relationship distress, other significant stressors, the effects of a substance/medication, or another medical condition.
The sexual dysfunction causes significant distress in the individual and is not better explained by a nonsexual mental disorder or as a consequence of severe relationship distress, other significant stressors, the effects of a substance/medication, or another medical condition.
Unspecified Sexual Dysfunction
The diagnosis of “unspecified sexual dysfunction” may be used when a person’s sexual problem does not meet the full criteria for any other sexual dysfunction diagnosis but still causes significant distress in the individual. This diagnosis is used when there is insufficient information to make a more specific diagnosis.
Almost every prescription medication, particularly those used in psychiatry, has been associated with an effect on sexuality. In men, these effects include decreased sex drive, erectile failure, decreased volume of ejaculate, and delayed or retrograde ejaculation. In women, decreased sex drive, decreased vaginal lubrication, inhibited or delayed organs, and decreased or absent vaginal contractions may occur. Drugs may also enhance a persons’ sexual responses and increase one’s sex drive, but this is less common than adverse effects.
A variety of treatment modalities may be used to treat sexual dysfunction. These include psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, behavior therapy, mindfulness, group therapy, and analytically oriented sex therapy. Medications used to treat erectile disorder include sildenafil (Viagra), phentolamine (Vasomax), alprostadil (Caverject, Idex), papaverine, prostaglandin E1, phentolamine, and others. Hormone therapy may be used to increase sex drive in women and in men with low testosterone concentrations.