Many women struggle with sexual dysfunction at some time in their lives. According to a 1999 poll published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, sexual dysfunction affects around 43 percent of women in the United States. Female sexual dysfunction can strike at any time in a woman’s life, and it can be chronic or episodic. Regardless of how frequently it occurs, its effects on one’s life make it necessary to seek help, especially from the OBGYN.
Types of sexual dysfunctions and contributing factors
Factors such as physiology, experiences, emotions, beliefs, lifestyle, and relationships all have a role in sexual response. Sexual drive, arousal, and pleasure can all be affected if any of these factors are disturbed. The following are examples of sexual dysfunction:
- Low libido or sex drive
- Sexual arousal problem – there is a strong desire for sex but trouble becoming aroused or sustaining arousal during a sexual engagement
- Orgasmic dysfunction – characterized by a persistent or recurrent inability to achieve orgasm despite adequate sexual desire and continuous stimulation
- Sexual pain disorder — pain linked with sexual stimulation or vaginal touch
Sexual dysfunction can be caused by different factors, including hormone imbalance, vaginal pain, urinary incontinence, emotional issues (such as anxiety, tension, distractions, and relationship issues), substance abuse (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana), ailments (including diabetes, hypertension, or cancer), negative body image, prescription drugs (such as birth control pills, antidepressants, and blood pressure medication), and overexercising.
Sexual dysfunction treatment options
This issue might have a varied impact on each patient. The good news is that there are treatments for sexual dysfunction caused by different factors. The first step is to identify whether or not this problem exists. The majority of women are familiar enough with themselves to understand the symptoms of sexual dysfunction. Inability to attain climax, loss of arousal and desire, vaginal dryness, and discomfort during intercourse are some of the symptoms. Some might be attributed to psychological reasons, like lack of sexual desire.
The OBGYN will discuss the patient’s issues with her and provide a compassionate listening ear so they can discover the origin of her problems. A medical history that includes current medicines can help us rule medicine out as a possible reason. For patients taking medication, such as an antidepressant, the doctor may work with the prescribing physician to adjust the dosage or come up with a feasible solution to the drug’s side effects. Hormonal balance tests may be part of the diagnostic process. Estrogen and testosterone both play a role in sexual enjoyment and function.
Sexual dysfunction treatment might be somewhat complicated. The OBGYN can help their patients regain enjoyment and control over sexual function. In many situations, restoring sexual function requires a mix of medicine and lifestyle modifications or other types of therapy. Some common treatment options available include hormone replacement therapy, the MonaLisa Touch, the O-Shot, the P-Shot for men, and incontinence devices.
Discuss your symptoms with an OBGYN
A proper discussion with the OBGYN will help you understand the many treatment options accessible to you. If low hormone levels cause your sexual dysfunction, the doctor can do some fast testing to see if hormone pellet therapy or HRT is suitable for you. Women who are unable or unwilling to take hormones but still have vaginal dryness and discomfort during or after intercourse may benefit from other effective therapy techniques.
Request an appointment here: https://eckhardtobgyn.com or call Donald Eckhardt Jr., M.D. , Kari Eckhardt W.H.N.P., C.N.M. at (346) 201-4716 for an appointment in our Tomball office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Sexual Dysfunction in Tomball, TX.
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