Sexual dysfunctions: what are they, what types are there and how are they treated

Sexual dysfunctions are all those situations in which sexual satisfaction or sexual response is affected and this prevents participation in a desired sexual relationship. They affect both men and women and do not have to be associated with age or sexual orientation.

Our sexuality is valued, albeit privately and intimately, as one of the most important aspects of our life. However, of all and all it is known that throughout history, human sexuality has been a nest of taboos, prejudices and censorship.

The repression of sexuality, nothing good, the brake of desire and generalized ignorance on the subject causes not only that we cannot know, express and enjoy our sexuality to the fullest, but on many occasions they cause the appearance of more serious difficulties that prevent us that enjoyment and that damage our relationships, both as a couple, as well as at a social level, since they damage self-esteem and general satisfaction with the lifetime.

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Prevalence

Although the statistics are confusing, due to the disagreement that often exists in the classification of sexual dysfunctions, indicate a fairly high prevalence. Masters and Johnson, pioneers in human sexuality research in the 1960s, indicated that 50% of heterosexual couples had some sexual dysfunction.

Currently, according to the Andalusian Institute of Sexology and Psychology (2002), the most frequently consulted sexual dysfunction is erectile dysfunction, which covers 48% of the consultations. The premature ejaculation It is followed by 28.8%, followed by hypoactive sexual desire (8%), female anorgasmia (7.4%), vaginismus (1.6%) and male orgasm disorders (0.4%).

How can I know if I have any sexual dysfunction?

The moment you feel discomfort or dissatisfaction in relation to your sexual behavior. For me, dysfunction begins when it is the person himself who is not comfortable in his relationships, not when the body does not respond as society dictates that it should respond (Ex: “A real man can take longer of X time ”, if you are satisfied with your ejaculation time and your partner also, there is no sexual dysfunction that ok). That is, it is a subjective perception.

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How it interferes with the quality of life

Our body is a medium for pleasure. If this does not work as we would like, that pleasure will be invaded, and Doesn't pleasure provide quality of life in every way? If our sexual relations do not provide us satisfaction, we will stop having them, when numerous studies say that a One of the variables that is associated with sexual satisfaction is the frequency with which they are had, for both men and women.

In addition, as is evident, not only are the couple's relationship in bed deteriorating, but also the confidence in oneself, self-esteem is deteriorated and in case of having a stable partner, communication with this and overall satisfaction with the relationship is also detrimental.

As usual, but not the best choice for that, sexual problems are often experienced in silence. This only generates serious internal conflicts (and with the partner), consequently reducing the quality of life.

Why treatment is important

Sexual dysfunctions often become a vicious cycle. It begins by having an episode in which our body has not reacted as we wanted (it has been lost or not got an erection, suddenly don't feel like having sex, can't climax or ejaculate sooner than I would like).

The next sexual intercourse already leaves with a certain anticipatory anxiety in the body for fear that it will happen again; that anxiety is what makes the body not work again. So, until you stop trying ("totally, I'm not going to enjoy" or "totally, why am I going to try if I'm not going to get it?" Or "I'm useless" or "I want to satisfy you and I can't" ). Anyway, you enter a loop from which it is very difficult to get out and for which, in the vast majority of cases, therapeutic help is needed.

Talking about problems related to sexuality produces very complex emotions such as guilt, shame or failure. For this reason, many people and couples find it very difficult to take the step to go to therapy.

We know that it costs a lot, firstly, to accept that you have a problem that is usually ashamed to admit to yourself and others, and secondly, dare to ask for help. Many couples spend an average of 3 years without talking about solving the problem and it takes 5 until they go to therapy.

The main reason it is important to treat them is because problems in bed cause pain emotional (and physical in some dysfunctions) that can affect self-esteem and your quality of life in general. It is important that you do not let the emotions we talked about before invade you And do not let you put an end to that vicious circle, since they are precisely the ones that feed it.

Bibliographic references:

• Toquero de la Torre, F., Zarco Rodríguez, J., Cabello-Santamaría, F., Alcoba Valls, S., García-Giralda Ruiz, L. and San Martín Blanco, C. (2004). Good clinical practice guide in sexual dysfunctions. Madrid: Collegiate Medical Organization.