The 8 Most Common Sexual Problems And How To Treat Them
Both men and women can experience a wide variety of sexual dysfunctions Some of these disorders involve pain, difficulty reaching orgasm, or difficulty maintaining sexual arousal.
Suffering from sexual problems is a complex experience, as many times this situation not only affects the person who suffers from it, but also their partner. Although psychologists who are experts in sex therapy deal daily with patients who come to their consultations for these types of disorders, many individuals find it difficult to take the step and seek professional help, mainly because of the shame they feel.
What are the main sexual problems suffered by both men and women? What disorders affect the sexual well-being of a person or a couple?
In the following lines you can find a list of the most common sexual problems and how to treat them.
1. Sexual desire disorder
Lack of interest in sex, or lack of sexual desire, is a common problem in both sexes ; however, it is more common among women. In fact, it is considered the most common sexual dysfunction in women, reaching an incidence of 33% between 18 and 59 years of age and up to 45% during menopause. This apathy not only includes disinterest in sex, but also in all sexual behavior, such as masturbation.
The causes can be both physical and psychological. Regarding the latter, the following stand out: relationship problems, other sexual dysfunctions (vaginismus, erectile dysfunction, etc.), mood disorders, anxiety and stress, fatigue or monotony.
2. Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is the inability of a man to achieve and/or maintain a penile erection and, therefore, to have satisfactory intercourse. It is one of the most feared sexual problems among men, and it can have a severe impact on the life of the affected person, especially on their self-esteem and interpersonal relationships.
It occurs for different reasons, although performance anxiety is one of the psychological origins that can cause this sexual limitation and that turns this problem into a vicious circle that is difficult to get out of.
3. Disorder in sexual arousal in women
Arousal disorder in women refers to the inability to experience physiological changes during sexual arousal, such as vaginal lubrication, rapid heartbeat and muscle tension; a situation that lasts throughout sexual activity. As with erectile dysfunction, arousal disorder in women has a high incidence.
The psychological factors that are most important in the appearance of this sexual problem are the anticipated fear of having a new sexual failure and the anxiety that this fear causes.
4. Vaginismus
Vaginismus is a female sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to achieve vaginal penetration due to the contraction of the muscles surrounding the entrance to the vagina. It occurs due to a reflex spasm that causes the muscles in this area to contract, thus closing the vaginal opening.
The cause is usually found in the fact that some women associate penetration with the feeling of danger. The anxiety that arises from this situation causes a tension response that makes it impossible to relax the vaginal muscles.
5. Premature ejaculation
Premature ejaculation is a male orgasm disorder in which the man expels semen prematurely, without him wanting it, recurrently in response to sexual stimulation either before, during or after penetration. It can arise from different causes, with psychological factors being the predominant ones.
Anorgasmia is another type of orgasm disorder that affects both men and women ; However, it is more common in the case of the latter (female anargosmia). It is defined as an absence or delay of orgasm during normal sexual activity, and as in the previous case, psychological factors usually predominate over organic ones.
Dyspareunia is persistent, recurrent pain in the pelvic area during or shortly after penetration, erection or ejaculation, and both men and women can suffer from it, although it is more common in women (female dyspareunia). Scientific studies conclude that approximately 12% of women suffer from it. Female dyspareunia usually appears associated with vaginismus problems.
8. Sex aversion disorder
People who suffer from this disorder, also called sexual rejection, actively and passively avoid all genital contact The cause is usually extreme anxiety and panic before the sexual act. It tends to occur more frequently in women.
How to treat sexual problems
Talking about sexual problems can be difficult, largely because people in this situation may feel ashamed, guilty, failed, and defeated both in life and in front of their partners. This circumstance does nothing other than feed the disorder, since the individual enters a vicious circle from which it is difficult to get out.
Therefore, the best option is to seek professional help, either in person or remotely In most cases, sexual disorders have a psychological origin, and therefore sexual psychotherapy is effective in treating these problems and in this way overcoming suffering and improving well-being.
Some therapeutic procedures
This is a summary of the most common forms of therapeutic intervention when helping people with affective-sexual problems of totally or partially psychological causes.
1. Cognitive restructuring
Many times, the inability to fully enjoy sexuality has to do with dysfunctional beliefs that lead to repression, especially those who maintain a low level of self-esteem, complexes about their own body, etc.
In therapy, we help get rid of these beliefs through procedures such as Socratic dialogue or the ascending arrow technique, associated with an intervention known as cognitive restructuring, which, as its name indicates, is based on modifying thought patterns. and interpretation of reality.
2. Training in pleasure
This is an especially useful technique in sexual relations in the context of a couple. It is based on degenitalizing relationships and make intimate moments based on other forms of interaction.
3. Semans Stop-Start Technique
This is a technique specifically designed to treat premature ejaculation problems. Helps improve “stamina” through progressive training of increasing difficulty.
4. Counseling and psychoeducation
In the sexological intervention sessions also people are informed about theoretical-practical aspects related to sexuality something very necessary considering the misinformation in this area, partly due to the taboo with everything related to sex.
5. Stimulus exposure techniques
This type of procedure is very useful to solve sexual dysfunctions based on anxiety and reactions associated with stress, such as vaginismus. It consists of generating habituation to anxiety-inducing situations, allowing them to lose their fear
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