Sexual dysfunction in women can take many forms and have many causes but generally relates to issues with sexual desire and arousal, pain during sex, and reaching an orgasm. While issues with sex tend to increase as women age, female sexual dysfunction can occur at any stage of life, and many women experience it at some point. Reports show that sexual dysfunction affects about 30% to 40% of women. Those experiencing sexual dysfunction may have temporary issues, or the problems can become recurrent and long-lasting.
Symptoms of Sexual Dysfunction in Women
While a lack of sexual desire is the most common complaint, sexual dysfunction in women can include many issues that can cause personal distress and strain relationships. The issues may occur in some sexual situations, or unfortunately in all sexual situations. The main symptoms of sexual dysfunction in women include:
- Low sexual desire: low libido, a lack of sexual interest, and a low drive to be sexual
- Sexual arousal disorder: the desire to have sex may be intact, but there is difficulty to become aroused or maintain arousal during sexual activity
- Sexual pain disorder: there is pain during sex, and/or there is pain with sexual stimulation or vaginal contact
- Orgasmic disorder: the difficulty or inability to have an orgasm
Causes of Sexual Dysfunction in Women
Sexual response is a complex process that involves physiology, emotions, hormones, the brain, and more. A disruption of any of these components can affect sexual desire, arousal, or satisfaction. As an example, sexual problems often begin when your hormones are in flux, such as after having a baby or during menopause. The factors, often interrelated, that lead to sexual dysfunction in women include:
Physical Causes
Hormonal changes: Lower estrogen levels can lead to changes in sexual responsiveness and genital tissues. As estrogen decreases, the blood flow to the pelvic region also decreases. This may lead to less genital sensation and the need for greater time to build arousal and reach orgasm.
Additionally, hormonal imbalances can cause the vaginal lining to become thinner and less elastic, especially if you are not sexually active. Women may also experience vaginal dryness. These conditions may make it painful to have intercourse, a condition known as dyspareunia. Sexual desire also may decrease when appropriate hormone levels decrease.
Women may experience hormonal changes with menopause, after giving birth, and while breastfeeding.
Blood flow disorders: Research indicates that vascular disorders can lead to female sexual dysfunction. Disorders affecting the blood vessels can prevent blood flow to areas that include the vagina, clitoris, and labia. Each of these parts requires increased blood flow for sexual arousal.
Gynecologic conditions: Certain gynecological problems such as ovarian cysts, vaginitis, endometriosis, vaginismus, and uterine fibroids all have the potential to affect a woman’s sex life as they all can cause pain during sex.
Health conditions: Other health conditions also cause sexual dysfunction in women. These include heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, kidney failure, bladder problems, and multiple sclerosis. Additionally, drug and alcohol abuse may affect sexual function.
Certain medications and treatments: Some medications may lead to sexual dysfunction in women. For example, antidepressants can reduce your sex drive and ability to have an orgasm, and selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can have negative sexual side effects. Other medications include blood pressure medications, antihistamines, and chemotherapy drugs.
Psychological Causes
- Depression
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Past physical or sexual abuse
- Relationship issues
Treatments for Sexual Dysfunction in Women
At Mygenics, we diagnose and treat the underlying causes of sexual dysfunction in women. Once assessed, we can treat with numerous therapies including Hormone Replacement Therapy and/or Medical Weight Loss. We also specialize in sexual dysfunction-specific treatments such as the Orgasm Shot® (O-Shot).
What is the Orgasm Shot® (O-Shot)?
The O-Shot involves taking platelet-rich plasma (PRP) that we isolate from the patient’s blood and then injecting it directly into the vaginal wall and clitoris. The platelets release growth factors that trigger cell proliferation, speed up healing and stimulate tissue regeneration. As a result, the O-Shot can help stimulate vaginal rejuvenation, help alleviate female sexual dysfunction, and help with urinary stress incontinence.
The O-Shot also works by improving clitoral blood flow, and by enhancing clitoral engorgement and sensitivity. These benefits all help to achieve an orgasm.
Overall, patients can expect that the O-Shot may provide the following benefits:
- Increased sensitivity and sexual stimulation
- Improved and more frequent orgasms
- Improved urinary stress incontinence
- Decreased pain with sex
The O-Shot is a simple, in-office procedure. Your appointment will take about an hour.
Are Female Sexual Dysfunction Treatments Right For Me?
At Mygenics, we’re happy to diagnose and treat any problems you may be having. If you are experiencing decreased sexual drive and/or arousal, decreased sexual stimulation, the inability to orgasm, painful sexual intercourse, or urinary stress incontinence, we’re able to help. Additionally, we can help you maintain healthy sexual function and healthy sex life. To schedule an appointment, please fill out our contact form or give our office a call today.