So, what is sexual dysfunction? It refers to any challenges a person or couple experiences during their sexual activity.
It includes arousal, attraction, pleasure, and orgasm.
Sexual dysfunction can cause various distress and it severely impacts a person’s life.
The most common issue affecting males is erectile dysfunction. It is often stemming from physical causes.
However, psychological factors like situational anxiety can also impact male sexual function.
For females, sexual dysfunction can arise from several problems, including –
- negative thoughts during sex,
- difficulty reaching orgasm,
- loss of interest in sex,
- and pain caused by vaginal dryness and tightness.
Causes of Sexual Dysfunction
Attitudes towards sexual problems have changed a lot over the centuries. Erectile dysfunction, in particular, has been discussed in detail since medieval times.
During medieval times, Muslim doctors and pharmacists were some of the first to develop treatments for sexual problems.
They used both single drugs and combinations of drugs to treat erectile dysfunction. They also created medications that could be applied directly to the skin or through the urethra.
Notable Muslim figures from the 9th to the 16th centuries who contributed to these treatments include Muhammad ibn Zakarīya Rāzi, Ibn Al-Jazzar, Averroes, Thabit bin Qurra, Avicenna, Ibn al-Baitar, and Ibn al-Nafis.
Avicenna is famous for his book “The Canon of Medicine,” and Ibn al-Nafis is known for “The Comprehensive Book on Medicine.”
In traditional Chinese medicine, treatments for sexual problems included acupuncture, acupressure, and herbal remedies.
Modern medicine’s study of sexual dysfunction began in the 1970s with the publication of “Human Sexual Inadequacy” by Masters and Johnson.
This book was the result of over ten years of research at the Reproductive Biology Research Foundation in St. Louis, involving 790 cases. It built on their earlier work, “Human Sexual Response,” published in 1966.
Before this, Sigmund Freud was the main figure in the treatment of sexual dysfunction. The common belief was that sexual problems stemmed from psychological issues, and there was little hope for resolving these disorders.
The focus was mainly on psychological factors, and different types of sexual dysfunction and their causes were not well understood.
Approach to Sexual Problems
When dealing with sexual problems, the first step is to thoroughly evaluate both partners, both individually and together.
Physical issues, like erectile dysfunction, can often be treated with medication. If psychological factors are involved, therapy might be recommended.
Psychological factors that can affect sexual function include anxiety, guilt, relationship issues, abuse, stress, past sexual trauma, depression, and panic disorders.
Physical factors include smoking, alcohol abuse, drug use (such as cocaine and heroin), and high caffeine intake.
Many people hesitate to seek help for sexual problems and often turn to the internet to self-diagnose and manage their issues.
Making lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption, can help with some cases of erectile dysfunction.
Medications like Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis are commonly used treatments. Another option is intracavernous pharmacotherapy, where a medication is injected into the penis to cause an erection.
For women, a vacuum device is available that increases blood flow to the genital area and clitoris, helping to improve sexual function.
