{"id":1018,"date":"2013-11-10T20:05:23","date_gmt":"2013-11-10T20:05:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/gps\/?p=1018"},"modified":"2013-11-01T20:35:48","modified_gmt":"2013-11-01T20:35:48","slug":"female-orgasmic-disorder-contributing-factors-treatments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/gps\/2013\/11\/10\/female-orgasmic-disorder-contributing-factors-treatments\/","title":{"rendered":"Female Orgasmic Disorder: Contributing Factors & Treatments"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post is part of a series of guest posts on GPS by the graduate students in my\u00a0Psychopathology<\/a>\u00a0course. As part of their work for the course, each student had to demonstrate mastery of the skill of “Educating the Public about Mental Health.” To that end, each student has to prepare three 1,000ish word posts on a particular class of mental disorders, with one of those focusing on changes made from the DSM-IV to the DSM-5.<\/em><\/p>\n

______________________________________________<\/p>\n

Female Orgasmic Disorder: Contributing Factors & Treatments\u00a0<\/em>by Ann O. Nonymous<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Female Orgasmic Disorder<\/a> is the continuous or frequent inability of a woman to have an orgasm, climax or sexual release, after sufficient sexual arousal and sexual stimulation.\u00a0 The decrease in responsiveness can be primary<\/a>, in which a woman has never experienced an orgasm, or secondary<\/a>, in which the decrease in responsiveness is obtained after a trauma.\u00a0 The decrease in responsiveness can be either general or specific to certain situations.\u00a0 Physiological and psychological causes are both reasons for a woman\u2019s inability to experience an orgasm.<\/p>\n

In typical situations, an orgasm is achieved when a woman is sexually aroused and the blood vessels in the pelvic area increase in size, which allows for more blood to flow to the genitals.\u00a0 The increase in blood flow is followed by fluid leaking out of the blood vessels and into the vagina to supply lubrication before and during sex.\u00a0 Tension in the body and blood flow to the pelvic area continues to increase as a woman encounters more sexual stimulation.\u00a0 Sexual stimulation occurs when a woman receives direct pressure on the clitoris or pressure on the walls of the vagina and cervix.\u00a0 Tension increases as blood flow increases.\u00a0 As tension is released, pleasurable contractions of the uterus and vagina are experienced by the woman.\u00a0 The release of the tension is know as an \u201corgasm.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Female Orgasmic Disorder, the sexual arousal and lubrication occur, just as in the typical orgasm situation. \u00a0But, even though body tension increases, a woman is not capable of or has a lot of trouble reaching climax and releasing the tension.\u00a0 The inability to orgasm can lead to frustration and unsatisfying sexual experiences<\/a> for both partners.\u00a0 A woman can develop anger, frustration, and other relational problems when an orgasm is unable to be achieved.\u00a0 Many physiological and psychological causes are to be considered for Female Orgasm Disorder.<\/p>\n

Many factors contribute to orgasmic dysfunctions<\/a>.\u00a0 Physiological causes of Female Orgasm Disorder involve specific biological dysfunctions in a woman\u2019s body.\u00a0 Physiological causes include the following: medication side effects, damage to the blood vessels of the pelvic region, spinal cord lesions, damage to the nerves in the pelvic area, and removal of the clitoris from cultural genital mutilation.\u00a0 Psychological causes have to do with the emotional and mental aspect of a woman. Psychological causes include the following:\u00a0 self-image issues, relational problems, stresses, guilt about sexual pleasure, religious or cultural beliefs, emotional abuse, past sexual abuse, fear of pregnancy, fear of rejection, and other mental health disorders, such as major depression.\u00a0 Female Orgasm Disorder is more likely to have psychological causes versus physical causes.\u00a0 Studies have shown that about 50% of all women experience some orgasmic difficulties, but not all difficulties are considered to be Female Orgasm Disorder.\u00a0 Studies suggest that at least 10% of women<\/a> never experience an orgasm, while up to 50% of women<\/a> can only experience an orgasm through direct clitoral stimulation.\u00a0 Female Orgasm Disorder can also be diagnosed along with other disorders.\u00a0 A differential diagnostic process must be in place in order to develop a treatment plan.<\/p>\n

The diagnosis of Female Orgasm Disorder is accomplished through a medical and psychological history.\u00a0 A clinician must also asses the history of the condition for a woman in which the failure of orgasm occurs.\u00a0 The frequency and duration of the problem must be explored.\u00a0 In some cases, the comorbidity<\/a> of Female Sexual Interest\/Arousal Disorder and Female Orgasm Disorder are the diagnosis.\u00a0 The comorbidity of the two disorders makes the diagnosis more complex.\u00a0 According to the American Psychiatric Association<\/a> (APA), Female Orgasm Disorder cannot be diagnosed if the inability to climax is due only to physiological factors.\u00a0 Also, if Female Orgasm Disorder is a symptom of another major psychological disorder, then Female Orgasm Disorder cannot be considered as a diagnosis.\u00a0 Once a diagnosis has been put in place, then a treatment plan can be established.<\/p>\n

Treatment is determined by the cause of the Female Orgasm Disorder.\u00a0 If physical issues are the reasons for a woman\u2019s inability to be achieve orgasm, then the root of the problem is treated.\u00a0 In other situations, different methods are considered as a combination to treat the problem.\u00a0 Education is provided to teach a woman and her partner about the disorder.\u00a0 Counseling provides a woman and her partner an opportunity to process information.\u00a0 Another method involves psychotherapy<\/a>, which allows for therapeutic interaction and treatment between a woman, her partner, and a trained professional.\u00a0 Psychotherapy also helps resolve tension in relationships that develops because of Female Orgasm Disorder.\u00a0 A woman and her partner can also participate in sex therapy<\/a> in which therapists<\/a> have specific training to help a woman and her partner concentrate on dealing with and overcoming Female Orgasm Disorder.\u00a0 In couples therapy, a woman and her partner complete assignments that concentrate on relaxation techniques, sexual exploration, and sexual communication.\u00a0 With the mentioned treatments, the prognosis is positive.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>With appropriate treatment<\/a>, a woman can experience orgasms again. \u00a0But, even with treatment and the ability to experience orgasms again, a woman may not experience orgasms every time or in every situation.\u00a0 A woman may also not be completely satisfied with the result of the orgasm, as the climax may not be to the strength or quality she is expecting of an orgasm.\u00a0 Working through relational issues can enhance treatment and increase the prognosis of overcoming Female Orgasm Disorder.\u00a0 The process takes time and requires both the woman and her partner to be committed to solving the problem.<\/p>\n

Female Orgasm Disorder can be frustrating and stressful for both the woman and her partner.\u00a0 Success in overcoming the disorder takes patience, commitment, and dedication.\u00a0 Seeking the right treatment options and plan play a valuable part in overcoming the disorder.\u00a0 It is important for a woman and her partner to understand Female Orgasm Disorder so they can provide positive support and understanding for each other.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In which one of my students examines the diagnosis called Female Orgasmic Disorder.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[100,104,29,12,52],"tags":[344,274,343,345,194],"class_list":["post-1018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","category-medicine","category-mental-health","category-psychology","category-teaching","tag-diagnosis","tag-dsm-5","tag-female-orgasmic-disorder","tag-symptoms","tag-treatment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/gps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/gps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/gps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/gps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/gps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1018"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/gps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1018\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/gps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/gps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/gps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}