Sexual Disorders: An Overview of Sexual Dysfunction

By Cristiano Antonino On Jun 3, 2023

A Sexual Dysfunction (or sexual disorder) is characterized by an abnormality in the process underlying the sexual response cycle, or by pain associated with intercourse

The normal sexual response cycle can be divided into the following phases (in each of which sexual disturbances may occur):

Desire. This stage consists of fantasies about sexual activity and a desire to engage in sexual activity.
Excitement. This phase consists of a subjective sensation of sexual pleasure and the concomitant physiological changes. The main changes in the male are penile tumescence and erection. The main changes in women are pelvic vasocongestion, vaginal lubrication and dilation, and tumescence of the external genitalia.
Orgasm. This phase consists of a peak of sexual pleasure, with easing of sexual tension and rhythmic contractions of the perineal muscles and reproductive organs. In the male, there is a feeling of the inevitability of ejaculation, followed by the emission of sperm. In the female there are contractions (not always subjectively perceived as such) of the wall of the external third of the vagina.
Resolution. This phase consists of a feeling of muscle relaxation and general well-being. During this stage, males are physiologically refractory to further erections and orgasms for varying lengths of time. Conversely, females may be able to respond to new stimulation almost immediately.

Sexual disorders can occur in one or more of these phases.

Sexual dysfunction: in both men and women, the sexual disturbances of the desire phase are decreased desire or sexual aversion

In men, the most common sexual disturbance of the arousal phase is erectile dysfunction (erectile dysfunction or sexual impotence), while in women, it is a lack of sexual arousal and lubrication.

In men, the most common sexual disturbance of the orgasm phase is premature ejaculation, although there are men who have delayed, impossible or unpleasant ejaculation, while in women, anorgasmia or frigidity (inability to reach orgasm) is very common. orgasm).

Then there are the so-called sexual disorders characterized by pain during intercourse, i.e. dyspareunia, both male and female, which consists of painful coitus, usually due to organic causes, or vaginismus, an involuntary contraction of the vagina that prevents penetration.

Furthermore, sexual addiction deserves a separate chapter, which is part of the problems of impulse control.

Then, sexual disorders include those that were once called sexual perversions, or sexual deviations, nowadays defined as paraphilias.

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